This engaging book follows the travels of French nobleman Sieur de la Salle who expanded the fur trade in North America—then called New France—and explored the Mississippi River down to the Gulf of Mexico. Historical information and high-interest fact boxes are presented in a tabloid-news style that guides readers through major voyages, explorations, and discoveries. Topics include La Salle's quest for a new trade route to China, life in New France, interactions with the Seneca, the fur trade, sailing down the Mississippi, and La Salle's legacy.