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

1927

The Big Flood

Photographed by Edward Troxel, November 16, 2024

1. 1927 Marker

Inscription.
The GREAT FLOOD OF 1927 remains the flood by which all Mississippi River floods are measured. At that time, it was the most destructive flood in American history and the nation's largest natural disaster. It caused more than $1 BILLION IN DAMAGE at a time when the entire annual budget of the nation was $3 billion. More than 1,000 people died and 700,000 were driven from their homes.

The devastating effect on communities along the lower portion of the Mississippi River resulted in the creation of the JADWIN PLAN. This comprehensive plan sought to control the River with a COORDINATED SYSTEM of levees supported by floodways, spillways, channels and improved mapping, starting here and continuing to the Gulf of Mexico.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Environment • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1927.

Location. 37° 18.244′ N, 89° 31.07′ W. Marker is in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, in Cape Girardeau County. It is on North Water Street, on the left when traveling south. The marker stands along the Missouri Wall of Fame along the Mississippi River Front. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 26 N Water St, 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 7 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named 1958 (a few steps from this marker); a different marker

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also named 1925 (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named 1924 (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named 1964 (within shouting distance of this marker); 1918 (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named 1980 (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named 1916 (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cape Girardeau.

Other markers no longer nearby. 1927 (has been replaced with this marker); 1958 (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); 1925 (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); 1924 (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); 1964 (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); 1918 - 1919 (was within shouting distance of this

Photographed by Edward Troxel, November 16, 2024

2. 1927 Marker

marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); 1980 (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); 1916 (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); 1909 (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 20, 2024, by Edward Troxel of Creal Springs, Illinois. This page has been viewed 129 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 20, 2024, by Edward Troxel of Creal Springs, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.