On 21–23 May 2025, the RIAS, in collaboration with the Netherlands American Studies Association (NASA) and the Theodore Roosevelt Center at Dickinson State University, will host a conference titled A Water’s History of the United States. This event, which will take place in Middelburg, is dedicated to exploring America’s watery past and present.
Water has played an essential role in shaping the geography of the United States—from the Great Lakes in the north to the Rio Grande and Gulf of Mexico in the south, from the Potomac, Schuylkill, and Hudson Rivers to any of its 250,000 waterways that cut cities in half, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans on either side. It has also been the force behind some of the country’s most stunning natural landmarks, whether it’s the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon, Lake Superior (the fifth-largest lake in the world), or the mighty Mississippi River, where Huck Finn embarked on his adventures in the 1800s.
But water’s significance in American history extends far beyond its physical presence. It has been central to the growth of the United States as a global power. Control over waterways, straits, and canals has played a key role in projecting US influence abroad, shaping the course of the country’s global ascendancy through dominance over marine environments such as islands, archipelagos, and strategic chokepoints.
Domestically, water has also defined critical moments in American democracy. From the 1919 race riots in Chicago—partly sparked by unequal access to swimming areas—to the ongoing struggle for clean water in Flint, Michigan, it has served as both a site of conflict and a measure of institutional accountability. Water has tested the limits of American governance, becoming a powerful symbol of justice, inequality, and environmental responsibility.
Today, water continues to shape international tensions and national identity, whether in debates over the naming of gulfs or the potential militarization and control of key canals and strategic ice-covered resources.
Join us from 21-23 May for a three-day exploration of water’s pivotal role in US history. This interdisciplinary conference will bring together over 50 scholars from multiple fields. Together, we will examine water’s impact on race, colonialism, infrastructure, warfare, Indigenous resistance, urban development, maritime culture, and much more.
Discover the complete program by clicking here.
Please visit the Eventbrite page using this link to register for the conference.
