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A Photographic Journey up the Missouri River in North Dakota - Little Missouri River

 Photographs of the Missouri River and Little Missouri River

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.

Banks of the Little Missouri River

Credit: National Park Service

Little Missouri River, Theodore Roosevelt National Park - North Unit

August 1963

Credit: National Park Service

Little Missouri River near Watford City, North Dakota

May 1943

Credit: U.S. Geological Survey

Little Missouri River near Watford City, North Dakota, looking upstream from bridge on US 85

1956 or 1963

Credit: U.S. Geological Survey

Little Missouri River near Watford City, North Dakota, looking upstream along right bank

May 1963

Credit: U.S. Geological Survey

Killdeer Mountains

Clark wrote of the Little Missouri River, on April 12, 1805, "it takes its rise in the N W extremity of the black mountains, and through a broken countrey in its whole course washing the N W base of the Turtle Mountain which is Situated about 6 Leagues S W of its mouth."  It is assumed he meant the Killdeer Mountains rather than the Turtle Mountains.

June 1992

Credit: U.S. Geological Survey

Killdeer Mountains

The Killdeer Mountains are topped by rock resistant to erosion and are therefore about 700 feet above the surrounding plain which did not resist erosion.

June 1992

Credit: U.S. Geological Survey

Aerial photograph of the Little Missouri River entering the Missouri River, prior to completion of the Garrison Dam

April 5, 1952

Credit: U.S. Geological Survey

Aerial photograph of the Little Missouri River entering Lake Sakakawea

June 16, 1995

Credit: U.S. Geological Survey

Canada Geese

Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/photo by Wyman Meinzer

Captain Clark, April 13th, 1805, on the Missouri River above the mouth of the Little Missouri:

I observe more bald Eagles on this part of the Missouri than usial (Reid, 1947-48)

Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/photo by J & K Hollingsworth

 References

Reid, Russell, ed., 1947-48, Lewis and Clark in North Dakota: Reprinted from North Dakota History, published by the State Historical Society of North Dakota, vol. 14-15, 359 p.

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