Road to the Sea: The Story of James B. Eads and the Mississippi River - Paperback

by Florence Dorsey (Author)

The Mississippi was discovered by Marquette in 1673 and spanned by James B. Eads in 1874. In his prolific career as an inventor intimately linked to the Mississippi, Eads founded diving salvage companies, designed turrets for Civil War ironclad ships, and-perhaps most spectacularly-built the first bridge that connected the eastern and western halves of the country, previously divided by the Great River. Compiled from the voluminous writings and utterances of James B. Eads, from government documents relating to his projects and the many controversies over them, and from magazine and newspaper accounts of his professional and social activities, among other sources, Road to the Sea is the definitive work on James B. Eads and his amazing accomplishments.

Author Biography

History, legend, and folklore have always been Florence Dorsey's chief interests, and a long period of research has preceded the publication of Master of the Mississippi, her first book. For recreation, Ms. Dorsey enthusiastically applauds water travel, roughing it in the woods, and sitting around on wharves listening to sailors' and fishermen's yarns. Born in Illinois, she went to school in Texas, traveled abroad, and later studied at the University of Missouri.