674 - Obelisk Along Greenway
This photo shows the stone obelisk flood marker standing in the Red River in downtown Grand Forks, ND. The structure records historic flood levels, with the Sorlie Bridge visible in the background.
The Red River of the North, famous for devastating floods and trophy catfish, is one of the few rivers in the world that flows north! Its story begins over 12,000 years ago, when monstrous glaciers merged to create a massive dam. The result was Lake Agassiz, a behemoth in and of itself. Before draining roughly 8,000 years ago, the lake’s area was larger than all of the modern Great Lakes combined. The once hilly land on the bottom of the lakebed became flat as the remaining sediment settled into the low spots creating what is now known as the Red River Valley.
Unfortunately, throughout its history, the Red River has breached its banks dozens of times and has been responsible for notable floods in and around Grand Forks. In April of 1997, a late season blizzard named “Hannah” slammed into the region, bringing more than six inches of snow and freezing rain, knocking out power to over 300,000 people in the Red River Valley. “Hannah” couldn’t have come at a worse time. The blizzard was the eighth of the season as the Red was already swelling. As the river kept rising, the community was left with very few options. Eventually the water had reached over two miles inward and forced the evacuation of all of East Grand Forks and the majority of Grand Forks.
But the floodwaters weren’t the only devastation. When they reached downtown, a fire broke out in the Security Building and spread rapidly, damaging or destroying eleven buildings across three city blocks. The community watched as their beloved town was ravaged. When it was all said and done, the river crested at a record-breaking 54.35 feet on April 21, 1997. As it receded, the community was faced with $3.5 billion dollars in damage. But thanks to the resilience of its residents, Grand Forks rebuilt, stronger than ever.
Today, the flood obelisk stands as a reminder of the great floods that plagued Grand Forks from 1882-1997. Constructed after the flood of 1997, the monument shows the years of the most significant floods and references the height that the flood water surged to. The obelisk was built to represent the buildings lost during the flood and stands on the site of the former Security Building. It stands both as a reminder of the past and a testament to the strength of the community.