The Mississippi’s touristically designated “source” remains a fixture on maps of North American territory and collective cultural consciousness, as this text, video, and audio post explores.

The “precise” geographical location of a river’s source is a label attributed much significance across a range of disciplinary contexts. Yet, as the example of the Mississippi asserts, the headwaters designation is typically one that is far from clear-cut. Despite this, the Mississippi’s touristically designated “source” remains a fixture on maps of North American territory and collective cultural consciousness alike, as Jamie Allen for Temporary continent. describes in this short reflection.