What's New

 USGS WaterAlert

 Data Center

•  Real-time data ()
  • Surface Water ()
  • Ground Water ()
  • Water Quality ()
  • Precipitation ()
  • More Data ()

•  Historical Data
  • Surface Water ()
  • Ground Water ()
  • Water Quality ()
  • Water Use
  • Annual Water Data Reports ()

•  WaterWatch ()
  • Floods | Droughts
  • Water Quality Watch
  • Current Conditions
    

    ---

  • Flood Tracking
  • Drought Watch

•  NWIS Data Services
  • NWIS Mapper ()
  • Water Data Explorer ()

 Information Center

• 2011 Flood Information
• Canoeing North Dakota's Rivers
• Devils Lake Basin
• Discovery Farms
• Education
• Lewis & Clark and the USGS
• Missouri River Basin
• North Dakota Wetlands
• Oil and Gas Resources
• Photo Gallery
• Red River Basin Flood Photos
• Webcams

 USGS in Your State

USGS Water Science Centers are located in each state.

 Connect with USGS

USGSND -

USGSND -

Publications

USGS News Releases

FAQs

A Photographic Journey up the Missouri River in North Dakota - Williston Area

 Photographs of the Missouri River at Williston, ND

These photos provide a visual journey up the Missouri River in North Dakota. The pictures are arranged in approximate upstream order and dates and locations are given when known.  These photographs may give you a glimpse of the sites Lewis & Clark saw and also serve to illustrate the history and development of the Missouri River.

To view a larger version of an image, click the image.  Use the web browser’s back command to return to this page.

Freighting on the Missouri River at Williston, North Dakota

ca. 1912

Office of the Chief of Engineers, Kansas City District

Credit: National Archives and Records Administration

Williston Project - Pumping Barge - Missouri River

ca. 1906

Bureau of Reclamation, Office of the Chief Engineer

Credit: National Archives and Records Administration

Missouri River near Williston, looking downstream during spring breakup

March 28, 1943

Credit: U.S. Geological Survey

Missouri River near Williston, looking upstream during spring breakup, center ice sheet is moving

9 am, March 28, 1943

Credit: U.S. Geological Survey

Missouri River near Williston, looking upstream during spring breakup, center ice

March 28, 1943

Credit: U.S. Geological Survey

Ice moving out at Williston

April 8, 1944

Credit: U.S. Geological Survey

Big Horn Sheep

Lewis and Clark first saw these animals along the badlands of the upper Missouri.  They found them to be extremely shy and difficult to approach.  The animals Lewis and Clark observed were Ovis canadensis auduboni and are extinct.  Ovis canadensis californiana, pictured at left, has be introduced on the Little Missouri National Grasslands of North Dakota.

Credit: National Park Service

To Top of Page

Lewis & Clark Home