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The Winter Walk: A Journey Across the Frozen Mississippi River, 1936

The freezing of the Mississippi River in 1936 was a rare and unusual event that occurred during one of the coldest winters in the region’s history. The extreme cold temperatures caused the river to freeze, allowing people to walk across the Mississippi to Illinois. This event was significant because it was a highly unusual occurrence, as the Mississippi River is usually not cold enough to freeze solid.

The frozen river provided a unique opportunity for people to cross the river on foot, which was usually only possible by boat or ferry. The sight of people walking across the Mississippi River attracted a great deal of attention and tourists who came to see this unusual phenomenon.

In addition to the event’s novelty, the frozen river also had practical implications for the people living and working along the river. The river’s freezing disrupted river traffic and commerce, causing economic hardship for many communities that relied on the river for transportation and trade.

Despite the difficulties, many people also saw the frozen river as a source of hope and inspiration. It was a symbol of resilience and perseverance in the face of difficult circumstances, and it brought communities together in a time of need.

#1 Three men prepare to walk across the river from the foot of Gasconade Street in south St. Louis on Feb. 7, 1936, after a massive ice jam covered the river.

Three men prepare to walk across the river from the foot of Gasconade Street in south St. Louis on Feb. 7, 1936, after a massive ice jam covered the river.

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The Winter Walk: A Journey Across the Frozen Mississippi River, 1936

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#2 People walking across the frozen Mississippi River from East St. Louis to St. Louis on Feb. 12, 1936.

People walking across the frozen Mississippi River from East St. Louis to St. Louis on Feb. 12, 1936.

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The Winter Walk: A Journey Across the Frozen Mississippi River, 1936

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#3 Three women standing on the frozen Mississippi River on Feb. 15, 1936.

Three women standing on the frozen Mississippi River on Feb. 15, 1936.

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The Winter Walk: A Journey Across the Frozen Mississippi River, 1936

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#4 R. D. Schmickle of the U.S. Geological Survey prepares to operate a device that measures the speed of the Mississippi’s current on Feb. 22, 1936.

R. D. Schmickle of the U.S. Geological Survey prepares to operate a device that measures the speed of the Mississippi’s current on Feb. 22, 1936.

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The Winter Walk: A Journey Across the Frozen Mississippi River, 1936

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#5 U.S. Geological Survey engineers measure current over the channel on Feb. 22, 1936, near the foot of Davis Street, in Carondelet.

U.S. Geological Survey engineers measure current over the channel on Feb. 22, 1936, near the foot of Davis Street, in Carondelet.

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The Winter Walk: A Journey Across the Frozen Mississippi River, 1936

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#6 A man examines some of the chunks of ice along the St. Louis riverfront on Feb. 26, 1936, after the ice jam across the Mississippi river began breaking up.

A man examines some of the chunks of ice along the St. Louis riverfront on Feb. 26, 1936, after the ice jam across the Mississippi river began breaking up.

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The Winter Walk: A Journey Across the Frozen Mississippi River, 1936

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#7 The breakup of the ice jam on Feb. 26, 1936, mangled the Missouri Pacific Railroad approach to a ferry landing at the foot of Davis Street, in Carondelet. The ferry ran to East Carondelet, Ill.

The breakup of the ice jam on Feb. 26, 1936, mangled the Missouri Pacific Railroad approach to a ferry landing at the foot of Davis Street, in Carondelet. The ferry ran to East Carondelet, Ill.

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The Winter Walk: A Journey Across the Frozen Mississippi River, 1936

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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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3 Comments

  1. During the early 20th century and the end of the 19th century, the Mississippi River often froze. As a result of the amount of human infrastructure on the River, it does not freeze over as often as it used to. The channels were deepened and straightened, making the river flow faster and less susceptible to freezing. Alton’s lock and dam also keep most of the ice flows north, so the river didn’t typically freeze here, the ice flows just gathered and froze together.