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One hundred years ago, our upper Mississippi River was on the brink of crisis. Levees were planned, and the River's floodplain wetlands and land were set to be drained and filled to create farmland. The potential devastation to the wildlife, plants, and many communities that call this area home was unimaginable. However, it was the collective effort of people who cared about the River, spearheaded by Will Dilg and the Izaak Walton League, that advocated for an alternative plan. This led to the creation of the globally significant Upper Mississippi River National and Wildlife Fish Refuge, which is one of the nation's largest wildlife preserves.
The Mississippi River Network is excited to host an event to bring the River community together for a screening of a new film that tells the story of the refuge's creation. The film, A Visit From Will Dilg by Steven Marking, is an inspiring story of how people can come together to make a significant difference. And for our River lovers, the film has beautiful videos and photos of the Upper Mississippi!
This special event is in celebration of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge's Centennial happening in 2024! The film screening will last about one hour and will be followed by a Q&A with Steven Marking. Tickets are free and include multiple donation options to support the work of the Mississippi River Network.
Online via Zoom
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
7:00 PM CDT - 8:30 PM CDT
About the Film A Visit From Will Dilg
Steven Marking portrays the inspiring journey of Will Dilg in a multimedia presentation, A Visit From Will Dilg. In the early 1920s, Dilg's only son tragically drowned in the Mississippi River. From the depths of his personal tragedy, Dilg emerged as a tireless, passionate advocate – leading a national crusade to form the Izaak Walton League and save a 261-mile stretch of Mississippi River backwaters we now know as the Upper Mississippi National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. His life may have been cut short, but his legacy lives on, inspiring us all as we approach the 100th Anniversary of the Refuge in 2024.
Click the image above to watch the "A Visit From Will Dilg" trailer!
Steven Marking created A Visit From Will Dilg for the Centennial celebration of our Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. The script relies heavily on Dilg's published words. Images and film clips of the refuge's glories are the stars of the show. As the story unfolds as told by Dilg, we are constantly reminded of the things that were saved—the plants, the animals, the birds, the fish, and the scenery.
By the 1920s, river land reclamation, or the filling in of floodplain wetlands, was at its peak in our country's history. Ground zero for the battle was the Winneshiek Bottoms near Lansing, Iowa, which was already legally permitted to be leveed off, drained, and filled to create farmlands. Dilg took the loss of wetlands and the fish and wildlife that went with it personally and started the battle against reclamation by forming a national coalition of outdoorsmen called The Izaak Walton League. They pushed federal legislation through Congress to create the Upper Mississippi National Wildlife and Fish Refuge in less than a year. This saved a large portion of our Upper Mississippi River lands from development, and more than 3.7 million people visit and enjoy the refuge annually today. It is the largest contiguous floodplain habitat in our nation!
After you register, you will be emailed the Zoom link. If you have any questions about the event or securing your ticket, please email info@1mississippi.org. See you soon!
More About Steven Marking
Steven is a Guest Speaker and Resident Entertainer for American Cruise Lines as they travel the Mississippi, Ohio, and Cumberland Rivers. He holds a master’s degree in Vocal Performance from the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, Maryland, and a bachelor’s degree from Viterbo University in his hometown of La Crosse, Wisconsin. He brings more than three decades of professional production and performance experience to his latest creation, “A Visit from Will Dilg,” and his ongoing masterpiece, “Our Mighty Mississippi.” Learn more about Steven at stevenmarking.com.
About Us
1 Mississippi is the national public program of the Mississippi River Network. Since 2009, 1 Mississippi has built a community of 20,000 River Citizens and inspired thousands of actions. From armchairs to wading boots, River Citizens protect the River by speaking up on its behalf and caring for it in simple ways that make a difference.
Contact Us: info@1mississippi.org
About Us
1 Mississippi is the national public program of the Mississippi River Network. Since 2009, 1 Mississippi has built a community of 20,000 River Citizens and inspired thousands of actions. From armchairs to wading boots, River Citizens protect the River by speaking up on its behalf and caring for it in simple ways that make a difference.
Contact Us: info@1mississippi.org
About Us
1 Mississippi is the national public program of the Mississippi River Network. Since 2009, 1 Mississippi has built a community of 20,000 River Citizens and inspired thousands of actions. From armchairs to wading boots, River Citizens protect the River by speaking up on its behalf and caring for it in simple ways that make a difference.
Contact Us: info@1mississippi.org
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Thank you for registering for the upcoming event on Wednesday, June 5th, from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. CT.
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About Us
1 Mississippi is the national public program of the Mississippi River Network. Since 2009, 1 Mississippi has built a community of 20,000 River Citizens and inspired thousands of actions. From armchairs to wading boots, River Citizens protect the River by speaking up on its behalf and caring for it in simple ways that make a difference.
Contact Us: info@1mississippi.org