Mississippi Escapade: Reliving the Grand Excursion of 1854

The Grand Excursion of 1854 brought 1200 people to the edge of the world. Of course, they knew the actual world went far beyond the Mississippi River. But they were city folk. To them a world without large cities, thriving businesses, and factories belching clouds of black smoke was still "savage." The small settlements between Davenport and St. Anthony hardly made an impression, and Indians were regarded as exotic and fearsome creatures.

When the excursionists debarked in St. Paul, continuing their quest, they immediately jumped onto stages and wagons bound for the Falls of St. Anthony. What they wanted all along was a taste of nature in the raw. What they saw as participants during their seven-day "Grand Excursion" more than answered their expectations in beauty and rugged spectacle.

Retracing the route of the Grand Excursion is an exhilarating experience. The grand vistas, picturesque islands, and awe- inspiring bluffs are still there. Eagles still soar overhead, and waterfowl continue to nest in the sloughs and backwaters. But today’s skyline along the shore is as much shaped by steeples and smokestacks as by willow and cottonwood trees. In the space of 150 years, the river has spawned the flourishing cities that today line its banks and pay tribute to its nurturing presence.

Paul Clifford Larson is an award-winning public historian in St. Paul, Minnesota, with ten books to his credit, including Afton Press’s "Minnesota Architect: The Life and Work of Clarence H. Johnston" and "A Place at the Lake." Pamela Allen Larson holds a K–12 teaching license in theater arts and dance, and for years has used drama in teaching history in museum settings. She teaches drama at St. Paul’s Linwood A+ School. Their son, Griffin, has spent his young life in two Mississippi River cities: Quincy, Illinois; and St. Paul. The three prepared for Mississippi Escapade with a flurry of camping trips to witness firsthand what has changed and what has remained the same of that glorious stretch of the river toured by the Grand Excursion of 1854.