There can be no doubt that the rivers of America have defined its history, and the most well known among these is the mighty Mississippi, familiar to anyone who owns some St. Paul real estate. In fact, the Mississippi is the greatest single reason for the existence of the city of St. Paul in the first place. Without the river as a transportation route, the city probably would never have come into existence. The keels of thousands of vessels have cut through the waters every year, though, making St. Paul an ideal spot for enterprising individuals.
As history and invention progressed, the Mississippi faced many new challenges and uses. The massive industrial build up of the middle 19th century would see this storied river become polluted around many of the major cities located upon it. As the city with the longest border with the river, St. Paul was certainly no exception. By the 1990s, however, steps were being taken to make sure the Mississippi could flow through the state as cleanly as ever. Stringent regulations and regulation of waste water treatment chemicals would help realize this goal.
Today, the river is not as important for transportation at this point as it once was. You won't see barges loaded with fuse holders coming upriver from the coastal areas, for example. Paved roads have become the preferred mode of transport for businesses and private individuals alike.
That's all for the better as far as the many people who enjoy the Mississippi today are concerned. As much a part of Americana as ever, the river is a magnet for all sorts of tourists, whether it is those out day tripping or those who want to really see the beginning of the American west for a few days. There are miles of hiking and biking trails along the river. If you want to get really close, you can climb on a paddle wheel boat for a planned river tour. Don't worry; the commercially licensed trips stipulate captains must check valves and do general boat maintenance before every trip!
The Mississippi still continues to be commercially important to St. Paul, although today its primary use is as a source of energy for the city and surrounding areas. People are kept employed engaging in sluice repair, rotary valve maintenance, and other jobs at the many dams which can be found up and down the river. These dams are both publicly and privately held.
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