The Great Missouri River Rivalry
In the spring of 1866, an exciting and dangerous competition took place along the Upper Missouri River. Two steamboats - the William J. Lewis, captained by Carroll Jones Atkins, and the Mollie Dozier, led by Captain E. T. Herndon - raced from St. Louis, Missouri, to Fort Benton, Montana. The trip covered more than 3,200 kilometers (about 2,000 miles) and became known as the longest and most dramatic steamboat race in American history.
Steamboats were the lifeline of trade before railroads reached the western plains. They carried supplies, furs, and passengers up rivers that wound through wild and often unpredictable landscapes. Fort Benton, near the head of navigation on the Missouri River, was one of the busiest inland ports in the late 1800s.
New "Mountain Boats" for a Difficult River
Both steamboats were special "mountain boats," a new type of vessel built for the shallow, fast-moving waters of the Upper Missouri. These boats were lighter, flatter, and shorter than ocean-going steamers, which allowed them to travel farther inland without getting stuck on sandbars.
According to historical records from the Montana Historical Society and research by steamboat historians, the William J. Lewis and Mollie Dozier were evenly matched in size and speed. This made the race extremely close - and very competitive.
A Fierce Race to Fort Benton
The race began in early April 1866, and both crews pushed their boats to the limit. People living and trading along the river shouted encouragement, placed bets, and even sent messages ahead warning towns to prepare for the racers' arrival.
On April 15, the two boats drew even. The crews exchanged cheers, jokes, and sometimes insults as they raced side by side. When the river split around an island, Captain Atkins took the right channel while Captain Herndon took the left. Herndon's gamble paid off for a time, and the Mollie Dozier pulled ahead.
Heavy rains, fast currents, and spring ice created constant danger. At one point, the William J. Lewis broke its winch while hauling over a sandbar. Struggling to stay on course, it accidentally collided with the Mollie Dozier, damaging both boats. Despite the crash, Atkins managed to repair his vessel enough to continue.
Victory After Two Grueling Months
After nearly two months of racing through storms and shallow waters, the William J. Lewis reached Fort Benton first, arriving at 4:30 p.m. on May 31, 1866. The Mollie Dozier arrived about 33 hours later. Atkins's victory gave his shipping company a valuable advantage in that year's trade season.
Historians today confirm this race as one of the last great events of the steamboat era on the Missouri River. Within a few decades, railroads replaced most river transport, and ships like the William J. Lewis and Mollie Dozier disappeared from the waterways.
Modern archaeological work and underwater mapping by the Montana Historical Society and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have identified remnants of 19th-century steamboats along the Missouri, offering clues about how these remarkable vessels operated in some of the most remote river regions in North America.
Legacy of the Race
Today, the story of the 1866 Missouri River race reminds us of the daring spirit of early river captains and the engineering innovations that made western exploration possible. The competition also shows how transportation shaped Montana's early communities - and how determination and creativity helped people overcome even the wildest rivers.