The Mississippi is well worth reading about. It is not a commonplace river, but on the contrary is in all ways remarkable. Mark Twain, Life on the Mississippi . . significant moments and phases of life on the Lower Mississippi . . . a splendid pictorial treatment. . . . A most interesting and informative introduction to Old Man River and his people. Dallas News The mighty Mississippi River spawned some of the most exciting periods in American history. From the river's discovery by Hernando DeSoto to the modern day, the Mississippi has been the backdrop for numerous events that have helped forge American history. Tales of the Mississippi offers over 300 magnificent pictures and nineteen rollicking tales about Old Man River. Painstaking research and intimate knowledge of Mississippi lore have gone into this handsome album, which brings the reader little-known, fascinating slices of Americana. Rafts, keelboats, flatboats, side-wheelers, sternwheelers, snagboats, steamboats, gunboats, showboats-all were a part of the stories of the legendary cast of characters who live on in the pages of the book. The tales include the mystery of DeSoto, the voyage of the first steamboat to New Orleans, the steamboat races, and what happened on the river during the War Between the States. Now a whole new generation of river buffs can find pleasure in these pages and relive these great moments from our past.