Dr. John Anfinson

Professional experience:  Mississippi National River and Recreation Area: Superintendent, August 2014-December 2020; Chief Resource Management 2010-August 2014; Historian and Cultural Resources Specialist June 2000 to 2010; District Historian, St. Paul District, Corps of Engineers, 1980-2000 (Chief, District Cultural Resources Staff 1997-2000).

Education:  B.A., History and Anthropology, M.A. and Ph.D., History, University of Minnesota.

Member of FMR Board since: 1994 (nonvoting since August 2014)

Board committees:  Policy and Planning

Professional interests:  John is the author of The River We Have Wrought: A History of the Upper Mississippi (University of Minnesota Press, 2005) and an author of River of History: A Historic Resources Study of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (2003).

Interesting book: Systems Thinking: A Primer, by Donella Meadows.

Favorite Mississippi River location:
Favorite historical place:  Meeker Island Lock and Dam Site, Minneapolis 
Favorite scenic site, urban:  Mounds Park, because of the viewshed of Saint Paul and the floodplain
Favorite scenic site, rural:  Pine Bend Scientific and Natural Area

Favorite animal: My cat Sweet Pea, a tabby.

Last memorable vacation:  Summer vacation trip through Taos, Santa Fe, Chaco Culture, Durango and other places in the Southwest.

Conservation/Environmental heroes:  Will Dilg, the primary author of the Upper Mississippi National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.

Upcoming Events

Wednesday, December 20, 2023 - 3:00pm to 11:00pm
Indeed Brewing Company, Minneapolis
January-February 2024
Multiple locations
Ole Olson prairie, Mississippi River, Minneapolis skyline

Celebrate 30 years of FMR!

For our 30th anniversary, our wish is for you to join us in restoring, protecting and enhancing the Mississippi River.