Ripped apart at the seams: the surprisingly intense geological history of Mississippi

There are some commonly accepted truths about Mississippi geology: the river usually wins; building on Yazoo clay is the worst; and if you’re looking for mountains here, you might have to squint—our highest elevation is only 800 feet.

But what if I told you that Mississippi has been at the center of a geological battlefield for hundreds of millions of years, torn apart and squeezed back together, at different times giving birth to volcanoes, oceans, and mountain chains so large they rivaled the modern Himalayas?

Intrigued? Come learn more at the Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center on Sunday, July 20, 2025 at 1 pm!