Mississippi River Basin Model–Preserving History, Reinventing STEM Education

The Mississippi River Basin Model is a scale replica of the Mississippi River watershed. The site was originally built by German prisoners of war who were housed at Camp Clinton. The model was an imperative scientific experiment that could efficiently perform complicated numerical analyses, and now the once abandoned site is being repurposed. The model, large and sprawling, shows decades of neglect. None of the owners of the model have known quite what to do with it, so it has sat unused and uncared for, for years. In late 2016, a group of volunteers founded Friends of Mississippi River Basin Model to restore the model, renew Buddy Butts Park, and enhance educational opportunities for children in Mississippi. As a nonprofit, the Friends are seeking to preserve, restore, and renew the model; improve the environmental and recreational opportunities of Buddy Butts Park, the model’s home in Jackson; and enhance STEM educational opportunities in the Jackson area. This presentation covers the history of the site, the technical aspects of the model, and current plans for restoration and outreach.

Speakers Expertise:

As a civil engineer by day and historical preservationist in her free time, Sarah McEwen explains the technical aspects of the Mississippi River Basin Model Waterways Experiment Station, located near Clinton, MS. The model is a large-scale hydraulic representation of the entire Mississippi River basin, covering an area of 200 acres. The model was built from 1943 to 1966 and in operation from 1949 until 1973. McEwen argues the importance of saving the model as a cultural heritage site for future Mississippians. This one-of-a-kind landmark is an example of local history and groundbreaking advancements that can occur in Mississippi.