Mississippi River

Rises in northern Minnesota, its chief source being Itasca Lake, and enters the Gulf of Mexico, after a course of 2550 miles. It was discovered by the Spaniards, early in the sixteenth century. De Soto explored the lower part of the river, and died on its banks in 1541. Radi on was probably the first white man to see its upper waters, in 1659. Jean Nicolet reached Wisconsin River in 1634, but did not descend it to the Mi i ippi. Jolliet and Marquette in 1673 reached the Mi i ippi, and descended as far as the mouth of the Arkansas. In 1682 La Salle descended the river from the mouth of the Illinois to the Gulf of Mexico. Its headwaters were discovered by David Thompson, of the North West Company, in 1798. Index : WM Exploration of, 19. L Exploration of, 145; La Salle reaches mouth of, 150; taken po e ion of, in name of king of France, 151. Hd Proposed canal route to, 77. Bib. : Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World ; Parkman, La Salle ; Chambers, The Mi i ippi River and its Wonderful Valley .