The Mississippi River, known as the Father of Waters, the Mighty Miss, and the Great River, runs from Lake Itasca, Minnesota, at river mile 552 to the Gulf of Mexico at river mile 1788. This natural water highway made possible many human experiences on the North American continent. The Hastings Levee served as a port when people and commerce relied on water transport, and this mooring ring is a reminder of the river's golden era.