Cape Girardeau in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

1673

Marquette and Joliet

Photographed by Edward Troxel, November 16, 2024

1. 1673 Marker

Inscription. In 1673 Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet led the first French expedition down the Mississippi. Joliet was the explorer; Marquette was the missionary and chaplain. The French hoped to find a rumored big river to the south that might lead to the Pacific. They soon concluded that they were headed not toward the Pacific, but toward the Gulf of Mexico. Near the mouth of the Arkansas River, Native Americans warned them that if they went farther south, they would encounter extreme heat, fierce peoples, and great beasts. They turned back to the safety of the French settlements on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence.

(caption)
Spanish Exploration
Spanish explorer Hernando deSoto was the first European to explore the wide Mississippi River Valley in the 1540s.
Sponsors: Cliff and Mary Kathryn Rudesill

Panel Sponsors: The Family of James W. and Evelyn Riley
and in the memory of Herbert II Taylor
The Latin phrase meaning "For the greater glory of God"
is the motto of the Jesuits and was added
at the suggestion of the sponsor.

Erected by Mississippi River Tales, River Heritage Mural Association.

Topics.

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This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Exploration. A significant historical year for this entry is 1673.

Location. 37° 18.36′ N, 89° 31.049′ W. Marker is in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, in Cape Girardeau County. It is on North Water Street north of Broadway Street, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located along the Mississippi River Tales Mural covering the downtown floodwall. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Cape Girardeau MO 63701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Missouri. It is also in the American Ozarks,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named 1673 (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, August 12, 2012

2. 1673 Marker

1735 (a few steps from this marker); 1200 (a few steps from this marker); Reflecting the River (a few steps from this marker); Pook's Turtles (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Nature's River (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named 1793 (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named 1803 (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cape Girardeau.

Other markers no longer nearby. 1735 (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); "Red Rover, Red Rover" (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); Nature's River (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); 1793 (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); 1803 (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . . Mississippi River Tales Mural. Wikipedia (Submitted on August 31, 2017.)

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, August 12, 2012

3. 1673 Marker

Photographed by Edward Troxel, November 16, 2024

4. 1673 Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on December 27, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 30, 2017, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 545 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 22, 2024, by Edward Troxel of Creal Springs, Illinois. 2, 3. submitted on August 30, 2017, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 4. submitted on November 22, 2024, by Edward Troxel of Creal Springs, Illinois. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.