The Mississippi River at Vicksburg has exceeded its 1927 record.

The water today stood at 56.6 feet, surpassing the ’27 level of 56.2. Flood stage in the River City is 43 feet, and a crest of 57.5 is set for Thursday.

Farther north today, Greenville is set to crest at 65 feet. To the south, Natchez is set to reach its 2011 peak, 63.5 feet, Saturday.

Over the weekend, throngs of tourists flocked to Vicksburg to see the rising water, among them William Faulkner — not Faulkner the author, rather the one from Calhoun, La.

“This is history in the making right here,” he said, focusing his video camera at the moat surrounding the old Levee Street depot downtown.

“This is just fascinating to me,” his wife, Marilyn, said.