Mississippi River 100

Commemorating the 1927 Flood. Imagining the Next 100 Years Together.

The Mississippi River 100 (MR100) is a bold, multi-year initiative that recognizes the complicated legacy of the Great Mississippi River Flood of 1927 — a transformative event that reverberated across the nation, reshaping how we govern and manage water, exposing social and racial disparities and contributing to major demographic shifts and cultural expression.

The Great Flood submerged more than 23,000 square miles of land across seven states, displacing hundreds of thousands of people, killing hundreds more, and causing significant damage to infrastructure and economies.

One hundred years later, MR100 connects diverse voices from up and down the Mississippi River and its entire basin to reflect on the past and collaboratively chart a future grounded in resilience, innovation, and imagination.

Through a basin-wide series of events, initiatives, research efforts, and creative expressions, MR100 convenes scientists, artists, communities, and policymakers to ask and address the big questions: What have we learned in the last 100 years? What do we still need to learn? What needs to change? And what future do we imagine for the river and for those who depend on it?

Why Now?

The Mississippi River Basin is the nation’s arterial system, cultural heart, and economic engine— touching parts or all of 31 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces, an area of over 1.2 million square miles. This basin drains approximately 40% of the continental United States In 1927, decisions made in response to the flood changed the course of history and how we manage the river and its tributaries. Today, with growing climate, economic, and cultural challenges, we again stand at a turning point.

MR100 offers an opportunity to shape that trajectory with intention, collaboration, and insight.

MR100 Initiative Goals

Five core focus areas guide the initiative

These pillars create a shared framework that helps communities and organizations see where their work fits, identify new opportunities, and join the initiative in ways that align with their strengths and interests.

River Science and Health
Policy, Advocacy and Management
Recreation, Education, and Community Connection
Arts, Culture, and Storytelling
Economy and Infrastructure

Who is MR100?

Facilitated in partnership with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Gulf Research Program and The Water Institute, MR100 is comprised of a growing network of collaborators from across the Mississippi River basin. Early contributors and participants include representatives from across science and academic institutions, government, private sector, NGOs, foundations, cultural organizations, communities, individuals, and more.

During the planning phase that was guided by a Visioning Committee and Advisory Groups from across the basin, initial partnerships, events, initiatives and programming were identified.

Recognizing that no single set of programs or partners can fully represent the vastness of the Mississippi River Basin and its stories, MR100 is structured to make participation easy at any point during the next two years for people, organizations, and communities beyond those identified so far. 

MR100 Calendar of Events

Beginning in January 2026, MR100 programming spans two years leading up to the 100th anniversary of the Great Mississippi River Flood in 2027. MR100 is an ongoing collective effort inviting communities, organizations and individuals to participate, contribute and lead.

Efforts that have joined the MR100 umbrella so far include a variety of events and initiatives from the headwaters to the delta that explore and highlight the historical, cultural, scientific, economic, and policy impacts of the flood.

Click here to see the MR100 calendar of events and initiatives identified as of now that are taking place over the next two years.

Submit your existing or newly developed events to become part of the basin-wide public calendar here.

See Highlighted Programming by Focus Area below.

Get involved

Participation in MR100 can be big or small, exist already or be newly created just for the commemoration. Every activity strengthens the basin-wide conversation.

Here are some ways the public, organizations, and partners can take part at any time during the two-year initiative: