Cape Girardeau in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
River Commerce
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, August 12, 2012
1. River Commerce Marker
Inscription.
River Commerce. . Known to Native Americans as "Messipi" ("Big River") or "Mee-zee-see-bee" ("Father of Waters"), the Mississippi River originates in Minnesota and terminates 2,348 miles later at the Gulf of Mexico. The river played an integral part in the establishment and growth of Cape Girardeau, whose port has welcomed skiffs, canoes, Keelboats, steamboats, and modern day passenger paddle wheelers. Barge traffic continues to utilize the river., Risk has always been a part of life on the river. In the nineteenth century, countless vessels struck submerged snags and sunk. Boiler explosions were also commonplace. On February 4, 1849, residents of Cape Girardeau were shocked when 1500 barrels of gunpowder on the steamboat Sea Bird exploded. The blast damaged building on St. Vincent's College. , Flooding has also been a constant threat. Until the floodwall was completed in 1964, Cape Girardeau suffered regular inundations. The floodwall is designed to protect Cape agains a 54-foot flood stage with two feet of freeboard. The record flood stage occurred in 1993 when the river reached 48.5 feet.
Known to Native Americans as "Messipi" ("Big River") or "Mee-zee-see-bee" ("Father of Waters"), the Mississippi River originates in Minnesota and terminates 2,348 miles later at the Gulf of Mexico.
The river played an integral part in the establishment and growth of Cape Girardeau, whose port has welcomed skiffs, canoes, Keelboats, steamboats, and modern day passenger paddle wheelers. Barge traffic continues to utilize the river.
Risk has always been a part of life on the river. In the nineteenth century, countless vessels struck submerged snags and sunk. Boiler explosions were also commonplace. On February 4, 1849, residents of Cape Girardeau were shocked when 1500 barrels of gunpowder on the steamboat Sea Bird exploded. The blast damaged building on St. Vincent's College.
Flooding has also been a constant threat. Until the floodwall was completed in 1964, Cape Girardeau suffered regular inundations. The floodwall is designed to protect Cape agains a 54-foot flood stage with two feet of freeboard. The record flood stage occurred in 1993 when the river reached 48.5 feet.
Erected by Southeast Missouri State University.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is February 4, 1849.
Location. 37°
Click or scan to see this page online
17.829′ N, 89° 31.22′ W. Marker is in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, in Cape Girardeau County. Marker can be reached from Aquasmi Street, on the right when traveling south. Marker is in a park on Southeast University Missouri - River Campus. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Cape Girardeau MO 63701, United States of America. Touch for directions.
2. "Bald Eagle", "Tennessee Belle" and "Cape Girardeau" docked at Cape Girardeau
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, August 12, 2012
3. Downtown Cape Girardeau in April 1927
Special Collections and Archives, Kent Library Southeast Missouri State University
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, August 12, 2012
4. Cape Girardeau Flood Wall
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, August 12, 2012
5. Cape Girardeau Flood Wall
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, August 12, 2012
6. Cape Girardeau Flood Wall
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, August 12, 2012
7. Boats on the Mississippi
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, August 12, 2012
8. River Commerce Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 23, 2012, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 655 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on August 23, 2012, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.