For Thomas Jefferson, the most important Corps of Discovery in the Louisiana Purchase was the expedition up the Red River of 1806.

The census of Native People of New Orleans Territory included descriptions of tribal languages, places, and affiliations.

Discovery of an ancient village at Fish Creek, formerly a channel of the Red River in Cooke County, Texas, explains Cross Timbers people.

Two maps of the Missouri Territory were either made with a time machine, or one of them is a wee bit older.

The northwestern portions of the Ozark Trail were subsumed by the federal highway project designated as US 66, aka the original Route 66.

I found two other maps of Texas, both from the period after Texas statehood (1845), that shows Warren's trading posts.

Pressler's 1867 shows Warren's Trading House sandwiched between Panther and Salt Creek (TX), and near Red Creek (OK), but not on Mud Creek.

A map about an unrealized future, drawn to indicate where the Texas & Pacific Railroad would pass once it was built west of Shreveport.

The Index Line stretched all the way from Logansport north to the Red River.

I decided to take a look at the life of the Beeswing, a steamer on the Red River, after finding a receipt from 1844.

Between 1810 and 1813, John Maley journeyed up the Red River and visited Natchitoches twice, but didn't enjoy either visit.

The Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1873 claimed several victims in Shreveport, including Eugene Woodruff, who removed the Raft of the Red River.

Several years ago, I took a road trip and found myself at Indian City, USA. I'm glad I did, because Indian City, USA is no more.

In the 1950s, salty Estelline Spring at the Prairie Dog Town Fork released 300 tons of the mineral daily into the Red River.

This French map from 1783 combines European claims and native America.

The "Old Southwest," which is dominated by the Red River, is a political rather than a cultural designation.

The Caddo structures were so numerous that Europeans who came to the Red River labeled southwestern Arkansas "Mound City."

This 1824 German map of Arkansas Territory is a lot more illuminating than many others from the same period I've encountered.

Zebulon Pike's journey to the Red River was beset with problems and intrigue.

In 1868, a battle between native Plains warriors and American settlers took place at White Creek where Cooke, Denton and Wise counties meet.