The word Batture is one we borrow from the French, referring to the vast expanses of exposed riverbank sculpted by the ebb and flow of the Mississippi River over thousands of years.

In the 1800s, the Bisso family from Genoa, Italy began five generations of maritime operations on the batture at the foot of Walnut Street. According to plans from 1892, they knew the land could offer more than a home for their business. They dreamed of using this riverfront as a vibrant hub where their community could gather for dances and picnics.

While that initial hope didn’t come to fruition, the essence of that dream remains alive. Eight years ago, we embarked on a journey to see this dream fulfilled and reconnect the community to its riverfront roots and revive the batture’s historic legacy.