Getting to Know Our Big Rivers

Big rivers are one of nature’s greatest gifts, yet much of what makes them special is hidden in front of us. We see them as a threat when they run high but otherwise value them mostly for what we can move on top of them. Author Dean Klinkenberg will peel back the layers in big river systems and show how they create and sustain life—life in many forms and in abundance. Big rivers inspire us, are good for our well-being, and remind us that we are part of something bigger, not apart from it all. Join us for a fresh perspective on our big rivers with practical steps for how we can go deeper into their world (without getting wet).

About the Presenter:

Dean Klinkenberg has been exploring the backwaters and back roads of the Mississippi River Valley since 2007, from the Headwaters in northern Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. His Mississippi Valley Traveler guidebooks and other non-fiction books detail local and regional histories for the people and places along the river. In addition, he writes mysteries set along the Mississippi that feature hard-luck travel writer Frank Dodge. Klinkenberg has also written for publications including Smithsonian Magazine, The National, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and the Minneapolis Star Tribune. His newest book, The Wild Mississippi: A State-by-State Guide to the River's Natural Wonders, goes deep into the river's natural history and includes descriptions of over 160 places where we can experience the river's world directly.