Big Muddy Speaker Series presents:
“No Longer Estranged – A History of Urban Rivers”
Original Presentation by Amahia Mallea, Asst. Professor of History, Drake University
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
528 Walnut St. – Kansas City, MO (in the River Market)
Many of our cities were founded on the banks of major rivers. Once they were highways connecting our communities to each other, our rivers became neglected dumping grounds as our cities turned their backs on them, embracing a future of railroads and then highways.
Kansas City is a perfect example, and is a good example of how cities are beginning to remember the important resource these rivers are for their identity, history and health. Amahia Mallea has been studying the difficult history Kansas City has with the Missouri River, and used KC as a template for talking about the renaissance urban areas are having with their rivers.
We we’re lucky Prof. Mallea joined us from Iowa to share her insights and hope about the relationship Kansas City has with the river that runs through it.
Meet Your Presenter
Amahia Mallea
, Asst. Professor of History, Drake University
Amahia Mallea is a graduate of the University of Missouri – Columbia. She has been focusing her research on the relationship of urban areas to their rivers, with an emphasis on the Missouri River. In 2003 she biked along the Missouri River from Columbia to Bismark, ND, an experience that has shaped her views of the challenges along the Missouri River. Since then, her research has included in-depth studies of Kansas City and the Missouri River as well as the Anacostia River.
Related Presentations
Resources & Links
Resources and Links
- Click here for presentation flier (pdf)»
- “Downstreamers – Public Health and Relationships on the Missouri River” by Amahia Mallea
- “Wheeling the World Over” – article in VOX magazine, 2006
The Big Muddy Speakers Series in Kansas City
is hosted by Friends of Lakeside Nature Center, Little Blue River Watershed Coalition, Missouri River Relief, Friends of Big Muddy and Healthy Rivers Partnership with the following list of partners. All speakers are presenting for free. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with all of us!
Click here for a list of upcoming presentations»
The Big Muddy Speaker Series is also held in Rocheport and St. Charles.
Another Chance to catch Amahia’s presentation
If you are unable to catch Prof. Mallea’s presentation on Wednesday, she will be giving the same talk the night before, at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the Lakeside Nature Center, 4701 Gregory in Kansas City.
Series Partners
Hickok’s Grill
Friends of Lakeside Nature Center
Little Blue River Watershed Coalition
Missouri River Relief
Friends of Big Muddy
Healthy Rivers Partnership
Columbia Fish & Wildlife Conservation Office (USFWS)
Big Muddy National Fish & Wildlife Refuge
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