In the Mississippi River, between the Franklin Avenue and Lake Street/Marshall Avenue bridges, sits an abandoned ruin. The ruin is almost invisible from the river bank. You may never know it exists unless you’re paddling directly on top of it, or avoiding its edges in a motor boat. The ghostly structure was once a fully operational lock and dam, the very first built on the Upper Mississippi River: The Meeker Island Lock and Dam.

In the season 9 premiere, producer Lydia Moran inspects this industrial ruin to understand why and how the slow moving river we know today was "invented" at the turn of the 20th century. Plans to remove the Upper Mississippi’s locks and dams might reinvent the river once again.

This episode was written and produced by Lydia Moran. Mixing by Kalen Keir. Special thanks to Paddle Bridge Kayak Tours.

MinneCulture is hosted by John Gebretatose and edited by Julie Censullo. Support for MinneCulture is provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.