VIDALIA &045; Dr. Douglas Brinkley, an acclaimed historian and author, entertained about 275 guests Wednesday with stories of forgotten figures who lived along the Mississippi River since 1803 and historical points commemorating the Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial on Wednesday.

The Concordia Parish Library and Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office hosted Brinkley at Comfort Suites in Vidalia, where an exhibit was set up in the lobby that illustrating key events the Louisiana Purchase.

Brinkley, who currently lives in New Orleans and is a professor of History at the University of New Orleans, said he and his late colleague, Stephen Ambrose, wanted to find the forgotten figures that lived along the Mississippi River.

Brinkley and Ambrose traveled the entire 2,350-mile length of the Mississippi River to find the stories that most people don’t know and put those in a book titled, &uot;The Mississippi and the Making of a Great Nation.&uot;

One such story was about a painter, Banvord, who painted a three-mile long painting of the Mississippi River. Brinkley said the concept of the painting was to be a panorama of the river so it looked like it was flowing.

Banvord’s painting was the rave of the 19th Century and a result he became the first millionaire painter, according to Brinkley.

Banvord eventually went bankrupt but was able to keep his painting Banvord’s painting was later found, and not knowing the history of it, it was taken apart and used for backdrops in school plays and other things of that nature.

Brinkley also told stories of Capt. Boyton who floated the entire length of the Mississippi River on his back and The Unsinkable Molly Brown, who survived the Titanic and afterwards devoted her life to Mark Twain studies.

&uot;In history, sometimes people allude us,&uot; Brinkley said.

Someone that everyone knows but may not think as having a great connection with the Mississippi River is former President Ronald Reagan. Of the U.S. presidents who have lived near the river, Reagan was raised the closest to the banks.

Brinkley said that after Reagan found his first job, he rented a room that his hero, Buffalo Bill, had stayed in that overlooked the Mississippi River because he wanted that connection.

&uot;When you cross this river all the time or live here, you can take it for granted,&uot; Brinkley said. &uot;It’s a wild, awesome river,&uot; he said.

Brinkley, who was raised in Atlanta, said he became interested in the Mississippi River as a teenager when he began reading about its history. Brinkley said that for example he was &uot;enamored by the steam-boat races.&uot;

Also, being a professor and scholar of American History, Brinkley said &uot;it’s hard not to gravitate towards the Mississippi River.&uot;

Brinkley closed by saying, &uot;to appreciate the river, is to appreciate America.&uot;