Winona State University’s lecture series, “Celebration of the Book 2006,” features historian John O. Anfinson in “A Barge-Load of Books: Writing and the Mississippi River,” at 7 p.m., on Wednesday, March 1, in the Science Laboratory Building Auditorium (Room 120).
Anfinson is the historian and cultural resources specialist for the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, a unit of the National Park Service. He worked as a cultural resources specialist and district historian for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, from 1980 to 2000.
Anfinson has been researching, writing and speaking about the upper Mississippi River for more than 20 years. He is the author of The River We Have Wrought: A History of the Upper Mississippi and River of History: A Historic Resources Study of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.
In addition, Winona State University in partnership with the Winona County Historical Society will host a panel discussion entitled “Writing the River: An Evening Discussion” at 7 p.m., Thursday, March 2, at the Historical Society’s museum on 160 Johnson St. in downtown Winona.
The panel includes historian John Anfinson, whose recent book, The River We Have Wrought, documents the history of the upper Mississippi; Cal Fremling, Winona State professor emeritus and author of Immortal River, which looks at the ecological, geological and social history of the upper Mississippi; Reggie McLeod, founding publisher and editor of Big River magazine; and environmental activist Richie Swanson.
The panelists will share their unique experiences with writing about the Mississippi River and will answer questions from the audience.
The events are free and open to the public. A reception will follow each event.