Mississippi River Basin model

There is a scale model of the Mississippi River Basin located in the middle of Butts Park in Clinton, MS. It was built by German POW's during World War II, working for the Corps of Engineers. It takes up probably 8-10 acres and is very detailed. Metal screening, folded accordion style symbolizes wooded areas and it is complete with what looks to be levees.

These metal "bridges" span the channel all along the route, I suspect they were covered in wood to allow the engineers to cross back and forth while analyzing the model. The river channel itself was lined with small metal hexagons with a threaded hole through the center embedded in the concrete. It wasn't till later in my exploration that I found an area that had small rectangular plastic pegs inserted in these fittings. I'm guessing that they slowed and smoothed out the flow of water as it traveled through the model. Just my guess...could be way off.

Here's a view of the river model showing some of the features that are incorporated into it. There are large pumping stations along the model, some above ground, some in pits along the route..

There are what appear to be other rivers merging with the model along the route, or maybe they are just backwater areas. Here is a view from a rusty metal tower in the center of the area showing a view towards what I believe to be the "head" of the river.

Here's a pump house, or at least that's what it looks to be. A large electric motor is belt driving a pump or compressor on the other end.