National Great Rivers Museum and make a connection with Mighty Mississippi River. From the early Native American tribes to the rise of the steamboat era, the Mississippi River has played an integral role in our ecosystem, our culture and our economy. Watch as the river changes course and character over time, growing into the mighty force it is today. Discover the diversity of the ecology found in the river, floodplain and bluffs. Learn about your own watershed and become aware of your personal water consumption. Test your skills in the pilothouse as you steer a barge through the locks and dam.