In March of 1881, winter ice on the Missouri River between Pierre, South Dakota and Omaha, Nebraska broke with disastrous consequences. Huge floating chunks of ice jammed the river channel, creating ice dams that held back that season's copious amount of meltwater. When those dams broke, the water was released and low-lying areas in towns like Yankton and Vermillion quickly found themselves inundated.
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Yankton County Historical Society
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Yankton County Historical Society
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— 1881 Flood looking southeast stereoview.JPG
Yankton County Historical Society
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Yankton County Historical Society
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Yankton County Historical Society
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Yankton County Historical Society
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Yankton County Historical Society
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Yankton County Historical Society
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Yankton County Historical Society
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Yankton County Historical Society
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Yankton County Historical Society