Steamboat Warehouse Historic Marker

The Steamboat Warehouse Historic Marker, located on the east bank of the Missouri River in Bismarck commemorates the Northern Pacific Railroad warehouse built to store goods in transshipment between steamboats and freight trains. The 300-foot-long stone and frame warehouse was constructed in 1883 and was torn down in 1925. The interpretive marker also describes activity at the dock adjacent to the warehouse. While visiting the Historic Marker you can enjoy the Missouri River, the trails, some art and some history all in one trip when you visit Steamboat Park, Steamboat Plaza and Keelboat Park. These parks all skim the banks of the river, right along River Road. From 1872 to 1887 Bismarck was an important transportation center and Missouri River port. Freight was hauled to Bismarck from the East by the Northern Pacific Railroad. Until a railroad bridge across the Missouri was completed October 21, 1882, the railroad terminated at the east side of the river and resumed on the west side. During the winter, trains crossed the ice on specially built track and during the summer, they were ferried across. A line called the River Landing Spur ran down to the steamboat warehouse so that freight from the railroad could be transferred to steamboats for shipping via the Missouri River. The river connected St. Louis, Missouri, Fort Benton, Montana, and ports in between. This 3.21 acre site displays a fieldstone monument with an aluminum plaque and is open year-round. A small parking area is in front of the marker on the west side of the road.