This bird was huge! Dramatically big. My phone ap identified it as a Goliath Heron. But sine that's limited to Africa, and this was in the middle of USA, I don't think that's right. Looks more like a Great Blue Heron, but if so, it's at the high end of what the internet says (Length: 38.2-53.9 in)...
Seen in a pond along the Mississippi River, not far from the upstream side of the Chain Of Rocks Canal. About here: 38.795004, -90.117780