Includes bibliographical references and index.

The Missouri is a story in itself. It is a thoroughly masculine river, a burly, husky bulldozer of a stream, which has taken on the biggest job of moving dirt in North America. Named the Big Muddy. HIGHWAY -- The father of navigation -- Missouri marathon -- Steamboat 'round the bend -- Long's dragon -- Princess of the Missouri -- The big muddy -- Beaver tails and wild honey -- BOUNDARY -- The Mormon migration -- Diving for furs -- Hell on the border -- Kaycee -- Ak-Sar-Ben -- Chief Blackbird and Sergeant Floyd -- The petrified man -- Range and grange -- OUTPOST -- Mountain men -- Standing rock -- Four bears -- Custer and Comanche -- Ghost dance -- The Missouri River women -- The Little Missouri -- Fort Union -- The great dam -- Honeymoon cruise -- White castles -- Chief Joseph's last battle -- Gypsies of the Upper River -- Great Falls -- The gates of the mountains -- Three forks.