Big Muddy Speaker Series presents:
Mississippi, Missouri, or Big Muddy: What's in a Name?
Why do we call the river in the middle of the country "Mississippi"? Shouldn't the name "Missouri" really carry forward to the Gulf, at least until it meets the Ohio River? In this talk, Klinkenberg will describe the various ways we try to name rivers and why it matters. He'll also answer the question about what name should be used for the river that flows through St. Louis to the Gulf.
Dean already gave this presentation at the Rocheport series and it was fantastic.
Dean Klinkenberg is a travel and mystery writer based in St. Louis, MO.
Meet Your Presenter
Related Presentations
Resources & Links
Dig deeper for more info on this topic
- "The Mississippi River Traveller" website - chock full of photos, stories, travel tips and more.
- More about Dean.
- Guide books and Mississippi River mysteries by Dean Klinkenberg
- ARTICLE - "Paddling on the Lower Mississippi River" by Dean Klinkenberg, Oct. 3, 2015, Minneapolis StarTribune
- Dean's list of (over 1000) Mississippi River songs
The Big Muddy Speakers Series in St. Charles
is hosted by these wonderful partners:
All speakers are presenting for free and Big A’s is sharing the space for free! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with all of us!
The Big Muddy Speaker Series also takes place monthly in Rocheport and Kansas City.
A special thank you to Greg Poleski of Greenway Network for making this happen!
The views and opinions expressed by our presenters do not necessarily reflect the view or policies of Greenway Network, the Big Muddy Speaker Series or any of the partners that support this public forum. The Big Muddy Speaker Series believes that hearing diverse perspectives is a crucial building block for an informed public.
Upcoming Presentations
Leave No Trace Training on the Barge
October 14, 2026St. Louis, MO
Join us for a special Big Muddy Speaker Series on the Living Lands & Waters Barge where Perry Whitaker will lead us in a Leave No Trace Training.
See Event
Missouri River Relief: 25 Years on the Big Muddy
November 10, 2026Columbia, MO
Join us for a journey through time celebrating 25 years of Missouri River Relief's work on the Big Muddy.
See Event
Plastic Pollution, Gulf Hypoxia, and Water Quality
November 11, 2026St Charles, MO
Jennifer Wendt from MidAmerica Clean Future guides us through understanding regional water quality challenges.
See Event