Songs Of The Mississippi

Originally Aired: May 4, 1938 Cavalcade of America #133, "Songs Of The Mississippi," This episode traces the musical and historical journey of the Mississippi River through the centuries, weaving together the voices of explorers, settlers, and workers who claimed and shaped America's greatest waterway. From Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto's discovery of the southern Mississippi in 1541 to French explorer René Robert Cavalier Sieur de la Salle's claiming of Louisiana for King Louis XIV in 1682, the episode celebrates how each generation christened the river with song. The narrative moves through key moments of discovery and conquest, featuring characters like De Soto and his companion Pedro, French explorers Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette, and LaSalle with his friend Tanti, each marking their encounters with hymns and ceremonial tributes. The story continues into the American era, where the Mississippi becomes a working river of commerce and culture. On a St. Louis dock, Captain Bill Hawkes and his daughter Sally observe cotton pickers singing as they load barges bound for New Orleans, while a mysterious tall stranger watches with peculiar interest, his expression shifting from smile to frown as the traditional river songs fill the air.