Minnesota Opera baritone, American Cruise Lines actor, and “riverlorian” (river historian) Steven Marking brings to life the true and inspiring story of Will Dilg in a multi-media show you won’t soon forget. It is a must-see performance if you treasure beautiful views of the Mississippi River backwaters, or if you enjoy birding, fishing, boating, or hunting in those fish and wildlife-rich backwaters. Because one hundred years ago all of that was about to go away as wetlands throughout the upper Mississippi were being drained to satisfy the insatiable demands of settlers for factories, farms and towns. In “A Visit from Will Dilg,” Marking as Dilg recounts how he rallied the nation in two short years to stop what he called the “drainage crime of the century” and create the Upper Mississippi Refuge, protected 100 years ago, in 1924. Marking’s performance includes stunning images of the River, riparian landscapes and species of the Refuge, which borders all of Jo Daviess County and in all, from Wabasha, Minnesota to Rock Island, Illinois, spans 261 river miles and 244,000 acres of river land habitat. As a supporter of JDCF’s mission to preserve and steward land and water, we hope you will want to learn about the single most significant conservation achievement in our nation’s history, the creation of our own Refuge.

Tickets are only $25/person and are available now at Galena Center for the Arts. You may also call the Center for the Arts at 815-402-3111, Thursdays through Sundays from 11 am to 4 pm. Complimentary popcorn; beer, wine and soft drinks for sale.