Episode 65: “A River in the City of Fountains” – Amahia Mallea (Water & Waterways, Part 5)

Since its earliest days, Missouri has been defined by its rivers. While the Mississippi River gets most of the attention thanks to the literary works of authors like Mark Twain, the Missouri River is actually the longer of the two waterways and travels through more counties in the state than its counterpart. This episode features a conversation with Amahia Mallea about her book, “A River in the City of Fountains,” and the complex history of the great river known as the "Big Muddy."

Episode Image: Louise and Doris Schmidt sitting on a hillside overlooking the Missouri River, Boonville, Missouri, ca. 1903 [Maximilian E. Schmidt Photographs (P0001), SHSMO]

About the Guest: Amahia Mallea is an associate professor of history at Drake University. She holds a PhD in history from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Her book, “A River in the City of Fountains: An Environmental History of Kansas City and the Missouri River,” was published by the University Press of Kansas in 2018.