On or about May 21, 1673, Fr. Jacques Marquette, fur-trader Louis Joliet, and five French voyageurs pulled into a Menominee community near modern Marinette, Mich. Marquette wrote that when the Menominee learned that he and Joliet intended to try to descend the Mississippi River all the way to the sea, "They were greatly surprised to hear it, and did their best to dissuade me. They represented to me that I should meet nations who never show mercy to strangers, but break their heads without any cause; and that war was kindled between various peoples who dwelt upon our route, which exposed us to the further manifest danger of being killed by the bands of warriors who are ever in the field. They also said that the great river was very dangerous, when one does not know the difficult places; that it was full of horrible monsters, which devoured men and canoes together; that there was even a demon, who was heard from a great distance, who barred the way, and swallowed up all who ventured to approach him; finally that the heat was so excessive in those countries that it would inevitably cause our death."
1863 - (Civil War) Battle of Port Hudson, Louisiana, Begins
Confederate troops had fortified Port Hudson, located 30 miles north of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to control shipping on the Mississippi River. As at Vicksburg, the artillery was positioned high on bluffs where it could easily destroy passing Union ships. On May 21, 1863, Union troops, including the 4th Wisconsin Infantry, began a six-week-long campaign against Port Hudson.
1985 - Distance Record Set for Paper Airplane
On this date Tony Feltch of Wisconsin set the world record for longest distance flown by a paper airplane. Feltch's airplane, launched at the La Crosse Center, flew 193 feet. [Source: Paper Aircraft Association]
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