On Your Way Down To The Gulf Of Mexico

The Mississippi River has been a central part of North American civilization for at least 5,000 years.

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Evidence of some of these early inhabitants can still be witnessed today in the form of burial mounds and effigy mounds built along the river as part of their religious beliefs.

Most history textbooks credit Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto with discovering the Mississippi River in 1541. Of course this is an aberration due to chronic vanity suffered by the "Paleface."

Ironically, De Soto died on the banks of the Mississippi River, succumbing to a fever in 1542.

Today, while it is the nation's most heavily trafficked river, it is cited that more than 18 million people in 50 cities rely on the Mississippi River for daily water supply.

Mud from the Mississippi River is also used for covering baseballs, to reduce glare and so they are not slippery for the pitchers.