Fargo, North Dakota

For over 100 years, Red River floods defined the cities and people who experienced the rising waters – not only due to the destruction, but the feelings and relationships developed during a time of restoration. Some areas may still show the wear and tear of the flood, but nearby restaurants, shops, and other small businesses are alive and bustling. The images in the exhibit show a community with some scars, but one that continued to thrive.

Those affected by the flood remember the experience in multiple ways including books, plays, and collections of photographs. In 2021, The City of Fargo unveiled a donor-funded public art piece led by the Fargo Lions Club and dedicated to the community members who helped with sandbagging efforts during the 1997 Red River Flood. The monument is a gateway arch known as “The Spirit of the Sandbagger.” This sculpture captures a common memory of the floods- how people from around the community came together to help neighbors and strangers stay safe in the face of the rising river. This exhibit has provided an opportunity to collect stories of those who experienced floods and these stories are being added to The Libraries’ Institutional Repository.