The American Hoist & Derrick building is visible on the far right in this photograph of the Mississippi River and its surroundings, taken as part of preliminary work before improvements were made to the river and harbor in the mid 1930s. Improvements to the harbor and river included dredging and other projects in and around the city of St. Paul. Work was completed in 1936.
An anchor barge is visible alongside the U.S. Dredge "William A. Thompson" . The dredge is a cutter-head dredge used on the Upper Mississippi and tributaries from 1937 to 2005. It is named for "William A. Thompson" (1864-1925), an engineer with the U.S. Army Corps stationed in Fountain City in 1896 and charged with river improvements on the Upper Mississippi.
Lower end of Boom Island after improvements were made by the Wisconsin Central Railway Company; shows a man with a horse drawn cart near the edge of the Mississippi River.
Two railroad bridges crossing the Mississippi River, including the Stone Arch Bridge. A man is standing along the bank and the milling district is visible in the background.
Progress in the cofferdam construction at the Onalaska dam, under construction on the Upper Mississippi as part of Upper Mississippi River improvements.
Clearing operations at the dike section of cofferdam at the Onalaska dam, under construction on the Upper Mississippi as part of Upper Mississippi River improvements.
Construction of the cofferdam nearing completion at the Onalaska dam, under construction on the Upper Mississippi as part of Upper Mississippi River improvements.
Burning brush in the dike area of the cofferdam for the Onalaska dam project, under construction on the Upper Mississippi as part of Upper Mississippi River improvements.
A general view of the cofferdam under high water conditions. The cofferdam is part of the Onalaska dam project, under construction on the Upper Mississippi as part of Upper Mississippi River improvements.