What Mississippi River town is this?
September 27, 2011 5:57 PM Subscribe
What Mississippi River town is this?
John W Reps Cities of the Mississippi: 19th-Century Images of Urban Development (University of Missouri Press, 1994) ISBN 0-8262-0939-4, page 229, says it is Burlington, Iowa.
I happen to know it is not; family there, been there, specific obvious diagnostic differences, etc. Believe me. A note to the author through the publisher was ignored.
But the question remains: where was the photographer Alex MacLean when he took the picture? Does anyone know what town this is? Thanks.
John W Reps Cities of the Mississippi: 19th-Century Images of Urban Development (University of Missouri Press, 1994) ISBN 0-8262-0939-4, page 229, says it is Burlington, Iowa.
I happen to know it is not; family there, been there, specific obvious diagnostic differences, etc. Believe me. A note to the author through the publisher was ignored.
But the question remains: where was the photographer Alex MacLean when he took the picture? Does anyone know what town this is? Thanks.
Best answer: It looks like Muscatine, Iowa.
posted by one more dead town's last parade at 6:12 PM on September 27, 2011
posted by one more dead town's last parade at 6:12 PM on September 27, 2011
That marina seems to match the one in Muscatine....
posted by mr_roboto at 6:14 PM on September 27, 2011
posted by mr_roboto at 6:14 PM on September 27, 2011
Mr_roboto, your map links to Burlington. Which I think is pretty funny, but that's as may be.
posted by Johnny Assay at 7:36 PM on September 27, 2011
posted by Johnny Assay at 7:36 PM on September 27, 2011
Best answer: mr_roboto is right. There's more matches than just the marina. In the very bottom right corner is the bridge which matches Muscatine. To the left of the bridge where it reaches land is a river/creek that flows south into the Mississippi that is a match for the one seen on Google Maps. Follow the creek 1.5 miles inland and there is a set of industrial looking buildings that are a match. The hills on the left side, as well as the buildings below it are a match. The hills are easily spotted in Google Maps terrain mode. Other tells include the railroad splitting from a single track to multiple at the end of the riverfront park, and the four-story red brick building at the corner of Cedar St and Mississippi Dr.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 11:25 PM on September 27, 2011
posted by Mister Fabulous at 11:25 PM on September 27, 2011
Response by poster: Yes, thank you all. Muscatine. I see other matches as well on closer look as Mister Fabulous points out, such as the large white industrial building at right in the distance.
Reps/MacLean missed it by only 50 miles. I should have guessed this, but the river is over a thousand miles long.
I share John Reps affection for these towns. I'm familiar with all the river towns between Burlington and St Louis, as well as a few others -- and canoed once down to Hannibal.
posted by lathrop at 5:34 AM on September 28, 2011
Reps/MacLean missed it by only 50 miles. I should have guessed this, but the river is over a thousand miles long.
I share John Reps affection for these towns. I'm familiar with all the river towns between Burlington and St Louis, as well as a few others -- and canoed once down to Hannibal.
posted by lathrop at 5:34 AM on September 28, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by stefnet at 6:11 PM on September 27, 2011 [1 favorite]