Jacques Marquette mapped parts of the Mississippi River for France in the 1670s.

Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet, two French explorers, were among the first Europeans to map portions of the Mississippi River in the 1670s. After starting in Michigan, their expedition followed the river south until it met the Arkansas River. France's interest in the area was cemented by this exploration, which was essential in advancing European understanding of the Mississippi and its potential for trade and settlement.