Missouri River

The Burlington Bridge at Kansas City, also called the Hannibal Bridge, was completed. It was the first bridge ever built across the Missouri River.

The notorious St. Charles Bridge opened across the Missouri River. It was the scene of several collapses, train wrecks, and riverboat sinkings.  

Missouri River Relief helps keep the waterway clean.

The steamboat, E. A. Ogden sank in Murray's Bend above Jefferson City.

A railroad bridge across the Missouri at St. Charles collapsed for the third time! Thirty one freight cars plunged into the river. It was also proving to be a hazard for steamboats.

The historic riverboat Far West sank at Mullanphy's Island near the mouth of the Missouri. It was one of Custer's boats and after Little Bighorn it steamed back 920 miles in just 54 hours! The Far West is also the subject of a Gary Lucy painting.

The Steamboat Arabia left St. Louis. It sank at Westport Landing six days later.

Hundreds of paddlers from around the world will undertake the MR340 next year, a grueling 340-mile race on the Missouri River from Kansas City to St. Charles. Get a taste for the adventure from these veteran competitors, and pick a point along the river to watch.

Geh und erforschel (go and explore) Missouri's German Heritage with a new book by W. Arthur Mehrhoff and published by Missouri Life Inc.