Sweeper, Snags, and Steam: The Steamboat Era on the Upper Missouri River

Smoke-belching, whistle-blowing, water-churning, multistoried paddlewheel steamboats flourished on Montana’s Missouri River in the 1800s. By carrying thousands of tons of freight and thousands of passengers, these boats forever changed the character and cultures of Montana and the Northern Plains.


From 1850 to 1889, hundreds of steamers fought their way up the treacherous “Big Muddy” to Fort Benton, Montana, the world’s most inland port. Every trip was an adventure full of risks: hull-piercing snags and sweepers, grounding sandbars, powerful rapids, herds of swimming buffalo, Indian attacks, and exploding boilers. The dangers were great but the rewards were enormous—until the railroads came.


In this engaging, readable history, Montana author Ed Wolff captures the golden age of steamboats on the Upper Missouri. With rich detail and more than 50 rarely seen historic photographs and illustrations, he describes steamboat construction, river navigation, famous captains, daily life aboard a steamboat, and notable steamboat journeys.