06/01/2026
Recent downpours may have left roads, fields, and backyards waterlogged, but they are nothing compared to what Boonville experienced during the Great Flood of 1903.
This remarkable photograph by L.S. Edwards captures one of the most dramatic scenes from the Great Flood of 1903 in Boonville. A steam locomotive carefully makes its way through floodwaters while a steamboat sits nearby along the riverfront, highlighting the vital role both rail and river transportation played in our community at the turn of the twentieth century.
The flood of 1903 inundated large portions of Boonville’s riverfront and disrupted travel, commerce, and daily life throughout the Missouri River Valley. Yet, as this image demonstrates, life and business continued as residents adapted to the challenges brought by the rising river.
Historic photographs like this offer a powerful reminder that generations of Boonville residents have weathered floods, storms, and hardships with determination and resilience.
Have any family stories or memories connected to Missouri River floods? Share them in the comments below!
