diff --git a/_locales/en/messages.json b/_locales/en/messages.json
index 1dde50b0a..75ff1cdbb 100644
--- a/_locales/en/messages.json
+++ b/_locales/en/messages.json
@@ -6992,6 +6992,10 @@
       }
     }
   },
+  "StoryImage__error": {
+    "message": "Error displaying image",
+    "description": "aria-label for image errors"
+  },
   "WhatsNew__modal-title": {
     "message": "What's New",
     "description": "Title for the whats new modal"
diff --git a/stylesheets/components/StoryImage.scss b/stylesheets/components/StoryImage.scss
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d2e8333f3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/stylesheets/components/StoryImage.scss
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+// Copyright 2022 Signal Messenger, LLC
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
+
+.StoryImage {
+  align-items: center;
+  border-radius: 8px;
+  display: flex;
+  height: 100%;
+  justify-content: center;
+  overflow: hidden;
+  position: relative;
+  width: 100%;
+  z-index: $z-index-base;
+
+  &--thumbnail {
+    height: 72px;
+    width: 46px;
+  }
+
+  &__image {
+    height: 100%;
+    object-fit: cover;
+    width: 100%;
+  }
+
+  &__error {
+    height: 100%;
+    max-width: 140px;
+    width: 100%;
+
+    @include color-svg(
+      '../images/full-screen-flow/alert-outline.svg',
+      $color-gray-25
+    );
+  }
+
+  &__spinner-container {
+    align-items: center;
+    display: flex;
+    height: 100%;
+    justify-content: center;
+    left: 0;
+    position: absolute;
+    top: 0;
+    width: 100%;
+  }
+
+  &__spinner-bubble {
+    align-items: center;
+    background-color: $color-gray-75;
+    border-radius: 32px;
+    display: flex;
+    height: 32px;
+    justify-content: center;
+    width: 32px;
+  }
+
+  &__spinner {
+    @include dark-theme {
+      &__circle {
+        background-color: $color-white;
+      }
+
+      &__arc {
+        background-color: $color-gray-75;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/stylesheets/components/StoryListItem.scss b/stylesheets/components/StoryListItem.scss
index e4aef1f83..baef66b98 100644
--- a/stylesheets/components/StoryListItem.scss
+++ b/stylesheets/components/StoryListItem.scss
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 
     &--title {
       @include font-body-1-bold;
+      color: $color-gray-05;
     }
 
     &--timestamp {
diff --git a/stylesheets/components/StoryViewer.scss b/stylesheets/components/StoryViewer.scss
index e8809c8b5..36d6006df 100644
--- a/stylesheets/components/StoryViewer.scss
+++ b/stylesheets/components/StoryViewer.scss
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@
     position: absolute;
     transform: translateX(-50%);
     width: 284px;
+    z-index: $z-index-above-base;
 
     &--group-avatar {
       margin-left: -8px;
diff --git a/stylesheets/manifest.scss b/stylesheets/manifest.scss
index 3f44deb8b..fd51d1b42 100644
--- a/stylesheets/manifest.scss
+++ b/stylesheets/manifest.scss
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@
 @import './components/Select.scss';
 @import './components/Slider.scss';
 @import './components/Stories.scss';
+@import './components/StoryImage.scss';
 @import './components/StoryListItem.scss';
 @import './components/StoryReplyQuote.scss';
 @import './components/StoryViewsNRepliesModal.scss';
diff --git a/ts/components/Stories.stories.tsx b/ts/components/Stories.stories.tsx
index 38fcd2cd8..62b50c650 100644
--- a/ts/components/Stories.stories.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/Stories.stories.tsx
@@ -59,59 +59,55 @@ function createStory({
   };
 }
 
+function getAttachmentWithThumbnail(url: string): AttachmentType {
+  return fakeAttachment({
+    url,
+    thumbnail: fakeThumbnail(url),
+  });
+}
+
 const getDefaultProps = (): PropsType => ({
   hiddenStories: [],
   i18n,
   openConversationInternal: action('openConversationInternal'),
   preferredWidthFromStorage: 380,
+  queueStoryDownload: action('queueStoryDownload'),
   renderStoryViewer: () => <div />,
   stories: [
     createStory({
-      attachment: fakeAttachment({
-        thumbnail: fakeThumbnail('/fixtures/tina-rolf-269345-unsplash.jpg'),
-      }),
+      attachment: getAttachmentWithThumbnail(
+        '/fixtures/tina-rolf-269345-unsplash.jpg'
+      ),
       timestamp: Date.now() - 2 * durations.MINUTE,
     }),
     createStory({
-      attachment: fakeAttachment({
-        thumbnail: fakeThumbnail(
-          '/fixtures/koushik-chowdavarapu-105425-unsplash.jpg'
-        ),
-      }),
+      attachment: getAttachmentWithThumbnail(
+        '/fixtures/koushik-chowdavarapu-105425-unsplash.jpg'
+      ),
       timestamp: Date.now() - 5 * durations.MINUTE,
     }),
     createStory({
       group: { title: 'BBQ in the park' },
-      attachment: fakeAttachment({
-        thumbnail: fakeThumbnail(
-          '/fixtures/nathan-anderson-316188-unsplash.jpg'
-        ),
-      }),
+      attachment: getAttachmentWithThumbnail(
+        '/fixtures/nathan-anderson-316188-unsplash.jpg'
+      ),
       timestamp: Date.now() - 65 * durations.MINUTE,
     }),
     createStory({
-      attachment: fakeAttachment({
-        thumbnail: fakeThumbnail('/fixtures/snow.jpg'),
-      }),
+      attachment: getAttachmentWithThumbnail('/fixtures/snow.jpg'),
       timestamp: Date.now() - 92 * durations.MINUTE,
     }),
     createStory({
-      attachment: fakeAttachment({
-        thumbnail: fakeThumbnail('/fixtures/kitten-1-64-64.jpg'),
-      }),
+      attachment: getAttachmentWithThumbnail('/fixtures/kitten-1-64-64.jpg'),
       timestamp: Date.now() - 164 * durations.MINUTE,
     }),
     createStory({
       group: { title: 'Breaking Signal for Science' },
-      attachment: fakeAttachment({
-        thumbnail: fakeThumbnail('/fixtures/kitten-2-64-64.jpg'),
-      }),
+      attachment: getAttachmentWithThumbnail('/fixtures/kitten-2-64-64.jpg'),
       timestamp: Date.now() - 380 * durations.MINUTE,
     }),
     createStory({
-      attachment: fakeAttachment({
-        thumbnail: fakeThumbnail('/fixtures/kitten-3-64-64.jpg'),
-      }),
+      attachment: getAttachmentWithThumbnail('/fixtures/kitten-3-64-64.jpg'),
       timestamp: Date.now() - 421 * durations.MINUTE,
     }),
   ],
diff --git a/ts/components/Stories.tsx b/ts/components/Stories.tsx
index 1539fdcc8..8c8e8dca1 100644
--- a/ts/components/Stories.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/Stories.tsx
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ export type PropsType = {
   preferredWidthFromStorage: number;
   openConversationInternal: (_: { conversationId: string }) => unknown;
   renderStoryViewer: (props: SmartStoryViewerPropsType) => JSX.Element;
+  queueStoryDownload: (storyId: string) => unknown;
   stories: Array<ConversationStoryType>;
   toggleHideStories: (conversationId: string) => unknown;
   toggleStoriesView: () => unknown;
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@ export const Stories = ({
   i18n,
   openConversationInternal,
   preferredWidthFromStorage,
+  queueStoryDownload,
   renderStoryViewer,
   stories,
   toggleHideStories,
@@ -99,6 +101,7 @@ export const Stories = ({
             }
           }}
           openConversationInternal={openConversationInternal}
+          queueStoryDownload={queueStoryDownload}
           stories={stories}
           toggleHideStories={toggleHideStories}
         />
diff --git a/ts/components/StoriesPane.tsx b/ts/components/StoriesPane.tsx
index 94b6aa5f8..b7293db46 100644
--- a/ts/components/StoriesPane.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/StoriesPane.tsx
@@ -44,12 +44,17 @@ function search(
   );
 }
 
+function getNewestStory(story: ConversationStoryType): StoryViewType {
+  return story.stories[story.stories.length - 1];
+}
+
 export type PropsType = {
   hiddenStories: Array<ConversationStoryType>;
   i18n: LocalizerType;
   onBack: () => unknown;
   onStoryClicked: (conversationId: string) => unknown;
   openConversationInternal: (_: { conversationId: string }) => unknown;
+  queueStoryDownload: (storyId: string) => unknown;
   stories: Array<ConversationStoryType>;
   toggleHideStories: (conversationId: string) => unknown;
 };
@@ -59,6 +64,7 @@ export const StoriesPane = ({
   onBack,
   onStoryClicked,
   openConversationInternal,
+  queueStoryDownload,
   stories,
   toggleHideStories,
 }: PropsType): JSX.Element => {
@@ -103,18 +109,19 @@ export const StoriesPane = ({
       >
         {renderedStories.map(story => (
           <StoryListItem
-            key={story.stories[0].timestamp}
+            key={getNewestStory(story).timestamp}
             i18n={i18n}
             onClick={() => {
               onStoryClicked(story.conversationId);
             }}
             onHideStory={() => {
-              toggleHideStories(story.stories[0].sender.id);
+              toggleHideStories(getNewestStory(story).sender.id);
             }}
             onGoToConversation={conversationId => {
               openConversationInternal({ conversationId });
             }}
-            story={story.stories[0]}
+            queueStoryDownload={queueStoryDownload}
+            story={getNewestStory(story)}
           />
         ))}
         {!stories.length && i18n('Stories__list-empty')}
diff --git a/ts/components/StoryImage.stories.tsx b/ts/components/StoryImage.stories.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b527affaf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ts/components/StoryImage.stories.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+// Copyright 2022 Signal Messenger, LLC
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
+
+import React from 'react';
+import { v4 as uuid } from 'uuid';
+import { storiesOf } from '@storybook/react';
+import { action } from '@storybook/addon-actions';
+
+import type { PropsType } from './StoryImage';
+import { StoryImage } from './StoryImage';
+import enMessages from '../../_locales/en/messages.json';
+import { setupI18n } from '../util/setupI18n';
+import {
+  fakeAttachment,
+  fakeThumbnail,
+} from '../test-both/helpers/fakeAttachment';
+
+const i18n = setupI18n('en', enMessages);
+
+const story = storiesOf('Components/StoryImage', module);
+
+function getDefaultProps(): PropsType {
+  return {
+    attachment: fakeAttachment({
+      url: '/fixtures/nathan-anderson-316188-unsplash.jpg',
+      thumbnail: fakeThumbnail('/fixtures/nathan-anderson-316188-unsplash.jpg'),
+    }),
+    i18n,
+    label: 'A story',
+    queueStoryDownload: action('queueStoryDownload'),
+    storyId: uuid(),
+  };
+}
+
+story.add('Good story', () => <StoryImage {...getDefaultProps()} />);
+
+story.add('Good story (thumbnail)', () => (
+  <StoryImage {...getDefaultProps()} isThumbnail />
+));
+
+story.add('Not downloaded', () => (
+  <StoryImage {...getDefaultProps()} attachment={fakeAttachment()} />
+));
+
+story.add('Not downloaded (thumbnail)', () => (
+  <StoryImage
+    {...getDefaultProps()}
+    attachment={fakeAttachment()}
+    isThumbnail
+  />
+));
+
+story.add('Pending download', () => (
+  <StoryImage
+    {...getDefaultProps()}
+    attachment={fakeAttachment({
+      pending: true,
+    })}
+  />
+));
+
+story.add('Pending download (thumbnail)', () => (
+  <StoryImage
+    {...getDefaultProps()}
+    attachment={fakeAttachment({
+      pending: true,
+    })}
+    isThumbnail
+  />
+));
+
+story.add('Broken Image', () => (
+  <StoryImage
+    {...getDefaultProps()}
+    attachment={fakeAttachment({
+      url: '/this/path/does/not/exist.jpg',
+    })}
+  />
+));
+
+story.add('Broken Image (thumbnail)', () => (
+  <StoryImage
+    {...getDefaultProps()}
+    attachment={fakeAttachment({
+      url: '/this/path/does/not/exist.jpg',
+    })}
+    isThumbnail
+  />
+));
diff --git a/ts/components/StoryImage.tsx b/ts/components/StoryImage.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..296dd7b92
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ts/components/StoryImage.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+// Copyright 2022 Signal Messenger, LLC
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
+
+import React, { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
+import classNames from 'classnames';
+import { Blurhash } from 'react-blurhash';
+
+import type { AttachmentType } from '../types/Attachment';
+import type { LocalizerType } from '../types/Util';
+import { Spinner } from './Spinner';
+import { ThemeType } from '../types/Util';
+import {
+  defaultBlurHash,
+  isDownloaded,
+  hasNotResolved,
+  isDownloading,
+} from '../types/Attachment';
+import { getClassNamesFor } from '../util/getClassNamesFor';
+
+export type PropsType = {
+  readonly attachment?: AttachmentType;
+  i18n: LocalizerType;
+  readonly isThumbnail?: boolean;
+  readonly label: string;
+  readonly moduleClassName?: string;
+  readonly queueStoryDownload: (storyId: string) => unknown;
+  readonly storyId: string;
+};
+
+export const StoryImage = ({
+  attachment,
+  i18n,
+  isThumbnail,
+  label,
+  moduleClassName,
+  queueStoryDownload,
+  storyId,
+}: PropsType): JSX.Element | null => {
+  const [attachmentBroken, setAttachmentBroken] = useState<boolean>(false);
+
+  const shouldDownloadAttachment =
+    !isDownloaded(attachment) && !isDownloading(attachment);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (shouldDownloadAttachment) {
+      queueStoryDownload(storyId);
+    }
+  }, [queueStoryDownload, shouldDownloadAttachment, storyId]);
+
+  if (!attachment) {
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  const isPending = Boolean(attachment.pending);
+  const isNotReadyToShow = hasNotResolved(attachment) || isPending;
+
+  const getClassName = getClassNamesFor('StoryImage', moduleClassName);
+
+  let storyElement: JSX.Element;
+  if (isNotReadyToShow) {
+    storyElement = (
+      <Blurhash
+        hash={attachment.blurHash || defaultBlurHash(ThemeType.dark)}
+        height={attachment.height}
+        width={attachment.width}
+      />
+    );
+  } else if (attachmentBroken) {
+    storyElement = (
+      <div
+        aria-label={i18n('StoryImage__error')}
+        className="StoryImage__error"
+      />
+    );
+  } else {
+    storyElement = (
+      <img
+        alt={label}
+        className={getClassName('__image')}
+        onError={() => setAttachmentBroken(true)}
+        src={
+          isThumbnail && attachment.thumbnail
+            ? attachment.thumbnail.url
+            : attachment.url
+        }
+      />
+    );
+  }
+
+  let spinner: JSX.Element | undefined;
+  if (isPending) {
+    spinner = (
+      <div className="StoryImage__spinner-container">
+        <div className="StoryImage__spinner-bubble" title={i18n('loading')}>
+          <Spinner moduleClassName="StoryImage__spinner" svgSize="small" />
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    );
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <div
+      className={classNames(
+        getClassName(''),
+        isThumbnail ? getClassName('--thumbnail') : undefined
+      )}
+    >
+      {storyElement}
+      {spinner}
+    </div>
+  );
+};
diff --git a/ts/components/StoryListItem.stories.tsx b/ts/components/StoryListItem.stories.tsx
index df918d678..eff359e24 100644
--- a/ts/components/StoryListItem.stories.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/StoryListItem.stories.tsx
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ function getDefaultProps(): PropsType {
   return {
     i18n,
     onClick: action('onClick'),
+    queueStoryDownload: action('queueStoryDownload'),
     story: {
       messageId: '123',
       sender: getDefaultConversation(),
diff --git a/ts/components/StoryListItem.tsx b/ts/components/StoryListItem.tsx
index 992e4b94c..28a238e89 100644
--- a/ts/components/StoryListItem.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/StoryListItem.tsx
@@ -9,8 +9,9 @@ import type { ConversationType } from '../state/ducks/conversations';
 import { Avatar, AvatarSize, AvatarStoryRing } from './Avatar';
 import { ConfirmationDialog } from './ConfirmationDialog';
 import { ContextMenuPopper } from './ContextMenu';
-import { getAvatarColor } from '../types/Colors';
 import { MessageTimestamp } from './conversation/MessageTimestamp';
+import { StoryImage } from './StoryImage';
+import { getAvatarColor } from '../types/Colors';
 
 export type ConversationStoryType = {
   conversationId: string;
@@ -53,6 +54,7 @@ export type PropsType = Pick<
   onClick: () => unknown;
   onGoToConversation?: (conversationId: string) => unknown;
   onHideStory?: (conversationId: string) => unknown;
+  queueStoryDownload: (storyId: string) => unknown;
   story: StoryViewType;
 };
 
@@ -64,6 +66,7 @@ export const StoryListItem = ({
   onClick,
   onGoToConversation,
   onHideStory,
+  queueStoryDownload,
   story,
 }: PropsType): JSX.Element => {
   const [hasConfirmHideStory, setHasConfirmHideStory] = useState(false);
@@ -182,14 +185,15 @@ export const StoryListItem = ({
             />
           )}
           {hasMultiple && <div className="StoryListItem__previews--more" />}
-          {attachment && (
-            <div
-              className="StoryListItem__previews--image"
-              style={{
-                backgroundImage: `url("${attachment.thumbnail?.url}")`,
-              }}
-            />
-          )}
+          <StoryImage
+            attachment={attachment}
+            i18n={i18n}
+            isThumbnail
+            label=""
+            moduleClassName="StoryListItem__previews--image"
+            queueStoryDownload={queueStoryDownload}
+            storyId={story.messageId}
+          />
         </div>
       </button>
       <ContextMenuPopper
diff --git a/ts/components/StoryViewer.stories.tsx b/ts/components/StoryViewer.stories.tsx
index a3f4fbdd0..64610153d 100644
--- a/ts/components/StoryViewer.stories.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/StoryViewer.stories.tsx
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ function getDefaultProps(): PropsType {
     onTextTooLong: action('onTextTooLong'),
     onUseEmoji: action('onUseEmoji'),
     preferredReactionEmoji: ['❤️', '👍', '👎', '😂', '😮', '😢'],
+    queueStoryDownload: action('queueStoryDownload'),
     renderEmojiPicker: () => <div />,
     replies: Math.floor(Math.random() * 20),
     stories: [
diff --git a/ts/components/StoryViewer.tsx b/ts/components/StoryViewer.tsx
index de8863d7b..8763a181e 100644
--- a/ts/components/StoryViewer.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/StoryViewer.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 // Copyright 2022 Signal Messenger, LLC
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
 
-import React, { useCallback, useEffect, useState } from 'react';
+import React, { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useState } from 'react';
 import { useSpring, animated, to } from '@react-spring/web';
 import type { BodyRangeType, LocalizerType } from '../types/Util';
 import type { ConversationType } from '../state/ducks/conversations';
@@ -12,7 +12,9 @@ import type { StoryViewType } from './StoryListItem';
 import { Avatar, AvatarSize } from './Avatar';
 import { Intl } from './Intl';
 import { MessageTimestamp } from './conversation/MessageTimestamp';
+import { StoryImage } from './StoryImage';
 import { StoryViewsNRepliesModal } from './StoryViewsNRepliesModal';
+import { isDownloaded, isDownloading } from '../types/Attachment';
 import { getAvatarColor } from '../types/Colors';
 import { useEscapeHandling } from '../hooks/useEscapeHandling';
 
@@ -37,6 +39,7 @@ export type PropsType = {
   ) => unknown;
   onUseEmoji: (_: EmojiPickDataType) => unknown;
   preferredReactionEmoji: Array<string>;
+  queueStoryDownload: (storyId: string) => unknown;
   recentEmojis?: Array<string>;
   replies?: number;
   renderEmojiPicker: (props: RenderEmojiPickerProps) => JSX.Element;
@@ -59,6 +62,7 @@ export const StoryViewer = ({
   onTextTooLong,
   onUseEmoji,
   preferredReactionEmoji,
+  queueStoryDownload,
   recentEmojis,
   renderEmojiPicker,
   replies,
@@ -70,6 +74,7 @@ export const StoryViewer = ({
 
   const visibleStory = stories[currentStoryIndex];
 
+  const { attachment, messageId, timestamp } = visibleStory;
   const {
     acceptedMessageRequest,
     avatarPath,
@@ -93,19 +98,20 @@ export const StoryViewer = ({
 
   useEscapeHandling(onEscape);
 
+  // Either we show the next story in the current user's stories or we ask
+  // for the next user's stories.
   const showNextStory = useCallback(() => {
-    // Either we show the next story in the current user's stories or we ask
-    // for the next user's stories.
     if (currentStoryIndex < stories.length - 1) {
       setCurrentStoryIndex(currentStoryIndex + 1);
     } else {
+      setCurrentStoryIndex(0);
       onNextUserStories();
     }
   }, [currentStoryIndex, onNextUserStories, stories.length]);
 
+  // Either we show the previous story in the current user's stories or we ask
+  // for the prior user's stories.
   const showPrevStory = useCallback(() => {
-    // Either we show the previous story in the current user's stories or we ask
-    // for the prior user's stories.
     if (currentStoryIndex === 0) {
       onPrevUserStories();
     } else {
@@ -128,8 +134,18 @@ export const StoryViewer = ({
     spring.start({
       from: { width: 0 },
       to: { width: 100 },
-      onRest: showNextStory,
+      onRest: {
+        width: ({ value }) => {
+          if (value === 100) {
+            showNextStory();
+          }
+        },
+      },
     });
+
+    return () => {
+      spring.stop();
+    };
   }, [currentStoryIndex, showNextStory, spring]);
 
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -141,8 +157,21 @@ export const StoryViewer = ({
   }, [hasReplyModal, spring]);
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    markStoryRead(visibleStory.messageId);
-  }, [markStoryRead, visibleStory.messageId]);
+    markStoryRead(messageId);
+  }, [markStoryRead, messageId]);
+
+  // Queue all undownloaded stories once we're viewing someone's stories
+  const storiesToDownload = useMemo(() => {
+    return stories
+      .filter(
+        story =>
+          !isDownloaded(story.attachment) && !isDownloading(story.attachment)
+      )
+      .map(story => story.messageId);
+  }, [stories]);
+  useEffect(() => {
+    storiesToDownload.forEach(id => queueStoryDownload(id));
+  }, [queueStoryDownload, storiesToDownload]);
 
   const navigateStories = useCallback(
     (ev: KeyboardEvent) => {
@@ -183,13 +212,14 @@ export const StoryViewer = ({
           type="button"
         />
         <div className="StoryViewer__container">
-          {visibleStory.attachment && (
-            <img
-              alt={i18n('lightboxImageAlt')}
-              className="StoryViewer__story"
-              src={visibleStory.attachment.url}
-            />
-          )}
+          <StoryImage
+            attachment={attachment}
+            i18n={i18n}
+            label={i18n('lightboxImageAlt')}
+            moduleClassName="StoryViewer__story"
+            queueStoryDownload={queueStoryDownload}
+            storyId={messageId}
+          />
           <div className="StoryViewer__meta">
             <Avatar
               acceptedMessageRequest={acceptedMessageRequest}
@@ -233,13 +263,13 @@ export const StoryViewer = ({
             <MessageTimestamp
               i18n={i18n}
               module="StoryViewer__meta--timestamp"
-              timestamp={visibleStory.timestamp}
+              timestamp={timestamp}
             />
             <div className="StoryViewer__progress">
               {stories.map((story, index) => (
                 <div
                   className="StoryViewer__progress--container"
-                  key={story.timestamp}
+                  key={story.messageId}
                 >
                   {currentStoryIndex === index ? (
                     <animated.div
@@ -315,9 +345,9 @@ export const StoryViewer = ({
           onReact={emoji => {
             onReactToStory(emoji, visibleStory);
           }}
-          onReply={(message, mentions, timestamp) => {
+          onReply={(message, mentions, replyTimestamp) => {
             setHasReplyModal(false);
-            onReplyToStory(message, mentions, timestamp, visibleStory);
+            onReplyToStory(message, mentions, replyTimestamp, visibleStory);
           }}
           onSetSkinTone={onSetSkinTone}
           onTextTooLong={onTextTooLong}
@@ -327,7 +357,7 @@ export const StoryViewer = ({
           renderEmojiPicker={renderEmojiPicker}
           replies={[]}
           skinTone={skinTone}
-          storyPreviewAttachment={visibleStory.attachment}
+          storyPreviewAttachment={attachment}
           views={[]}
         />
       )}
diff --git a/ts/components/conversation/GIF.tsx b/ts/components/conversation/GIF.tsx
index cab70bffb..1bd4b63ca 100644
--- a/ts/components/conversation/GIF.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/conversation/GIF.tsx
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import { Spinner } from '../Spinner';
 
 import type { AttachmentType } from '../../types/Attachment';
 import {
-  hasNotDownloaded,
+  hasNotResolved,
   getImageDimensions,
   defaultBlurHash,
 } from '../../types/Attachment';
@@ -166,10 +166,10 @@ export const GIF: React.FC<Props> = props => {
   };
 
   const isPending = Boolean(attachment.pending);
-  const isNotDownloaded = hasNotDownloaded(attachment) && !isPending;
+  const isNotResolved = hasNotResolved(attachment) && !isPending;
 
   let fileSize: JSX.Element | undefined;
-  if (isNotDownloaded && attachment.fileSize) {
+  if (isNotResolved && attachment.fileSize) {
     fileSize = (
       <div className="module-image--gif__filesize">
         {attachment.fileSize} · GIF
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ export const GIF: React.FC<Props> = props => {
   }
 
   let gif: JSX.Element | undefined;
-  if (isNotDownloaded || isPending) {
+  if (isNotResolved || isPending) {
     gif = (
       <Blurhash
         hash={attachment.blurHash || defaultBlurHash(theme)}
@@ -213,12 +213,12 @@ export const GIF: React.FC<Props> = props => {
   }
 
   let overlay: JSX.Element | undefined;
-  if ((tapToPlay && !isPlaying) || isNotDownloaded) {
+  if ((tapToPlay && !isPlaying) || isNotResolved) {
     const className = classNames([
       'module-image__border-overlay',
       'module-image__border-overlay--with-click-handler',
       'module-image--soft-corners',
-      isNotDownloaded
+      isNotResolved
         ? 'module-image--not-downloaded'
         : 'module-image--tap-to-play',
     ]);
diff --git a/ts/components/conversation/Image.tsx b/ts/components/conversation/Image.tsx
index dcdbdc538..0d62045d0 100644
--- a/ts/components/conversation/Image.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/conversation/Image.tsx
@@ -8,7 +8,10 @@ import { Blurhash } from 'react-blurhash';
 import { Spinner } from '../Spinner';
 import type { LocalizerType, ThemeType } from '../../types/Util';
 import type { AttachmentType } from '../../types/Attachment';
-import { hasNotDownloaded, defaultBlurHash } from '../../types/Attachment';
+import {
+  isDownloaded as isDownloadedFunction,
+  defaultBlurHash,
+} from '../../types/Attachment';
 
 export type Props = {
   alt: string;
@@ -169,7 +172,7 @@ export class Image extends React.Component<Props> {
     const canClick = this.canClick();
     const imgNotDownloaded = isDownloaded
       ? false
-      : hasNotDownloaded(attachment);
+      : !isDownloadedFunction(attachment);
 
     const resolvedBlurHash = blurHash || defaultBlurHash(theme);
 
diff --git a/ts/components/conversation/Message.tsx b/ts/components/conversation/Message.tsx
index 24c5d600a..374012282 100644
--- a/ts/components/conversation/Message.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/conversation/Message.tsx
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ import {
   getGridDimensions,
   getImageDimensions,
   hasImage,
-  hasNotDownloaded,
+  isDownloaded,
   hasVideoScreenshot,
   isAudio,
   isImage,
@@ -917,7 +917,7 @@ export class Message extends React.PureComponent<Props, State> {
               onError={this.handleImageError}
               tabIndex={tabIndex}
               onClick={attachment => {
-                if (hasNotDownloaded(attachment)) {
+                if (!isDownloaded(attachment)) {
                   kickOffAttachmentDownload({ attachment, messageId: id });
                 } else {
                   showVisualAttachment({ attachment, messageId: id });
@@ -1093,7 +1093,7 @@ export class Message extends React.PureComponent<Props, State> {
       }
     );
     const onPreviewImageClick = () => {
-      if (first.image && hasNotDownloaded(first.image)) {
+      if (first.image && !isDownloaded(first.image)) {
         kickOffAttachmentDownload({
           attachment: first.image,
           messageId: id,
@@ -2388,7 +2388,7 @@ export class Message extends React.PureComponent<Props, State> {
         return;
       }
 
-      if (attachments && hasNotDownloaded(attachments[0])) {
+      if (attachments && !isDownloaded(attachments[0])) {
         event.preventDefault();
         event.stopPropagation();
         kickOffAttachmentDownload({
@@ -2420,7 +2420,7 @@ export class Message extends React.PureComponent<Props, State> {
       attachments.length > 0 &&
       !isAttachmentPending &&
       (isImage(attachments) || isVideo(attachments)) &&
-      hasNotDownloaded(attachments[0])
+      !isDownloaded(attachments[0])
     ) {
       event.preventDefault();
       event.stopPropagation();
@@ -2511,7 +2511,7 @@ export class Message extends React.PureComponent<Props, State> {
     }
 
     const attachment = attachments[0];
-    if (hasNotDownloaded(attachment)) {
+    if (!isDownloaded(attachment)) {
       kickOffAttachmentDownload({
         attachment,
         messageId: id,
diff --git a/ts/components/conversation/MessageAudio.tsx b/ts/components/conversation/MessageAudio.tsx
index 69e1653d2..ac861921f 100644
--- a/ts/components/conversation/MessageAudio.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/conversation/MessageAudio.tsx
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import { noop } from 'lodash';
 import { assert } from '../../util/assert';
 import type { LocalizerType } from '../../types/Util';
 import type { AttachmentType } from '../../types/Attachment';
-import { hasNotDownloaded } from '../../types/Attachment';
+import { isDownloaded } from '../../types/Attachment';
 import type { DirectionType, MessageStatusType } from './Message';
 
 import type { ComputePeaksResult } from '../GlobalAudioContext';
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ export const MessageAudio: React.FC<Props> = (props: Props) => {
 
   if (attachment.pending) {
     state = State.Pending;
-  } else if (hasNotDownloaded(attachment)) {
+  } else if (!isDownloaded(attachment)) {
     state = State.NotDownloaded;
   } else if (!hasPeaks) {
     state = State.Computing;
diff --git a/ts/model-types.d.ts b/ts/model-types.d.ts
index 812c8c47b..72187fc42 100644
--- a/ts/model-types.d.ts
+++ b/ts/model-types.d.ts
@@ -287,6 +287,7 @@ export type ConversationAttributesType = {
   // Shared fields
   active_at?: number | null;
   draft?: string | null;
+  hasPostedStory?: boolean;
   isArchived?: boolean;
   lastMessage?: string | null;
   name?: string;
diff --git a/ts/models/messages.ts b/ts/models/messages.ts
index a2bf28056..f16d8513d 100644
--- a/ts/models/messages.ts
+++ b/ts/models/messages.ts
@@ -149,6 +149,8 @@ import { isConversationAccepted } from '../util/isConversationAccepted';
 import { getStoryDataFromMessageAttributes } from '../services/storyLoader';
 import type { ConversationQueueJobData } from '../jobs/conversationJobQueue';
 import { getMessageById } from '../messages/getMessageById';
+import { shouldDownloadStory } from '../util/shouldDownloadStory';
+import { shouldShowStoriesView } from '../state/selectors/stories';
 
 /* eslint-disable camelcase */
 /* eslint-disable more/no-then */
@@ -233,7 +235,7 @@ export class MessageModel extends window.Backbone.Model<MessageAttributesType> {
       messageChanged(this.id, conversationId, { ...this.attributes });
     }
 
-    const { addStory } = window.reduxActions.stories;
+    const { storyChanged } = window.reduxActions.stories;
 
     if (isStory(this.attributes)) {
       const ourConversationId =
@@ -247,17 +249,7 @@ export class MessageModel extends window.Backbone.Model<MessageAttributesType> {
         return;
       }
 
-      // TODO DESKTOP-3179
-      // Only add stories to redux if we've downloaded them. This should work
-      // because once we download a story we'll receive another change event
-      // which kicks off this function again.
-      if (Attachment.hasNotDownloaded(storyData.attachment)) {
-        return;
-      }
-
-      // This is fine to call multiple times since the addStory action only
-      // adds new stories.
-      addStory(storyData);
+      storyChanged(storyData);
     }
   }
 
@@ -2438,6 +2430,10 @@ export class MessageModel extends window.Backbone.Model<MessageAttributesType> {
             return;
           }
 
+          if (isStory(message.attributes)) {
+            attributes.hasPostedStory = true;
+          }
+
           attributes.active_at = now;
           conversation.set(attributes);
 
@@ -2556,14 +2552,25 @@ export class MessageModel extends window.Backbone.Model<MessageAttributesType> {
         // outgoing message or we've accepted the conversation
         const reduxState = window.reduxStore.getState();
         const attachments = this.get('attachments') || [];
+
+        let queueStoryForDownload = false;
+        if (isStory(message.attributes)) {
+          const isShowingStories = shouldShowStoriesView(reduxState);
+
+          queueStoryForDownload =
+            isShowingStories ||
+            (await shouldDownloadStory(conversation.attributes));
+        }
+
         const shouldHoldOffDownload =
-          (isImage(attachments) || isVideo(attachments)) &&
-          isInCall(reduxState);
+          !queueStoryForDownload ||
+          ((isImage(attachments) || isVideo(attachments)) &&
+            isInCall(reduxState));
         if (
           this.hasAttachmentDownloads() &&
           // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-non-null-assertion
           (this.getConversation()!.getAccepted() ||
-            isStory(message.attributes) ||
+            queueStoryForDownload ||
             isOutgoing(message.attributes)) &&
           !shouldHoldOffDownload
         ) {
diff --git a/ts/services/storyLoader.ts b/ts/services/storyLoader.ts
index f78effbae..4264c2620 100644
--- a/ts/services/storyLoader.ts
+++ b/ts/services/storyLoader.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import type { StoryDataType } from '../state/ducks/stories';
 import * as log from '../logging/log';
 import dataInterface from '../sql/Client';
 import { getAttachmentsForMessage } from '../state/selectors/message';
-import { hasNotDownloaded } from '../types/Attachment';
 import { isNotNil } from '../util/isNotNil';
 import { strictAssert } from '../util/assert';
 
@@ -30,24 +29,9 @@ export function getStoryDataFromMessageAttributes(
     return;
   }
 
-  // Quickly determine if item hasn't been
-  // downloaded before we run getAttachmentsForMessage which is cached.
-  if (!unresolvedAttachment.path) {
-    log.warn(
-      `getStoryDataFromMessageAttributes: ${message.id} not downloaded (no path)`
-    );
-    return;
-  }
-
-  const [attachment] = getAttachmentsForMessage(message);
-
-  // TODO DESKTOP-3179
-  if (hasNotDownloaded(attachment)) {
-    log.warn(
-      `getStoryDataFromMessageAttributes: ${message.id} not downloaded (no url)`
-    );
-    return;
-  }
+  const [attachment] = unresolvedAttachment.path
+    ? getAttachmentsForMessage(message)
+    : [unresolvedAttachment];
 
   const selectedReaction = (
     (message.reactions || []).find(re => re.fromId === ourConversationId) || {}
diff --git a/ts/sql/Client.ts b/ts/sql/Client.ts
index b1086a008..2fa2eae1e 100644
--- a/ts/sql/Client.ts
+++ b/ts/sql/Client.ts
@@ -212,6 +212,7 @@ const dataInterface: ClientInterface = {
   searchMessagesInConversation,
 
   getMessageCount,
+  getStoryCount,
   saveMessage,
   saveMessages,
   removeMessage,
@@ -295,6 +296,7 @@ const dataInterface: ClientInterface = {
   _deleteAllStoryReads,
   addNewStoryRead,
   getLastStoryReadsForAuthor,
+  countStoryReadsByConversation,
 
   removeAll,
   removeAllConfiguration,
@@ -1078,6 +1080,10 @@ async function getMessageCount(conversationId?: string) {
   return channels.getMessageCount(conversationId);
 }
 
+async function getStoryCount(conversationId: string) {
+  return channels.getStoryCount(conversationId);
+}
+
 async function saveMessage(
   data: MessageType,
   options: {
@@ -1633,6 +1639,11 @@ async function getLastStoryReadsForAuthor(options: {
 }): Promise<Array<StoryReadType>> {
   return channels.getLastStoryReadsForAuthor(options);
 }
+async function countStoryReadsByConversation(
+  conversationId: string
+): Promise<number> {
+  return channels.countStoryReadsByConversation(conversationId);
+}
 
 // Other
 
diff --git a/ts/sql/Interface.ts b/ts/sql/Interface.ts
index 9a5442937..fd14e219e 100644
--- a/ts/sql/Interface.ts
+++ b/ts/sql/Interface.ts
@@ -371,6 +371,7 @@ export type DataInterface = {
   // searchMessagesInConversation is JSON on server, full message on Client
 
   getMessageCount: (conversationId?: string) => Promise<number>;
+  getStoryCount: (conversationId: string) => Promise<number>;
   saveMessage: (
     data: MessageType,
     options: {
@@ -561,6 +562,7 @@ export type DataInterface = {
     conversationId?: UUIDStringType;
     limit?: number;
   }): Promise<Array<StoryReadType>>;
+  countStoryReadsByConversation(conversationId: string): Promise<number>;
 
   removeAll: () => Promise<void>;
   removeAllConfiguration: (type?: RemoveAllConfiguration) => Promise<void>;
diff --git a/ts/sql/Server.ts b/ts/sql/Server.ts
index 56b122208..330fb7d9f 100644
--- a/ts/sql/Server.ts
+++ b/ts/sql/Server.ts
@@ -208,6 +208,7 @@ const dataInterface: ServerInterface = {
   searchMessagesInConversation,
 
   getMessageCount,
+  getStoryCount,
   saveMessage,
   saveMessages,
   removeMessage,
@@ -291,6 +292,7 @@ const dataInterface: ServerInterface = {
   _deleteAllStoryReads,
   addNewStoryRead,
   getLastStoryReadsForAuthor,
+  countStoryReadsByConversation,
 
   removeAll,
   removeAllConfiguration,
@@ -1686,6 +1688,20 @@ function getMessageCountSync(
   return count;
 }
 
+async function getStoryCount(conversationId: string): Promise<number> {
+  const db = getInstance();
+  return db
+    .prepare<Query>(
+      `
+        SELECT count(*)
+        FROM messages
+        WHERE conversationId = $conversationId AND isStory = 1;
+        `
+    )
+    .pluck()
+    .get({ conversationId });
+}
+
 async function getMessageCount(conversationId?: string): Promise<number> {
   return getMessageCountSync(conversationId);
 }
@@ -2392,7 +2408,7 @@ function getOlderMessagesByConversationSync(
 
 async function getOlderStories({
   conversationId,
-  limit = 10,
+  limit = 9999,
   receivedAt = Number.MAX_VALUE,
   sentAt,
   sourceUuid,
@@ -2416,7 +2432,7 @@ async function getOlderStories({
         (received_at < $receivedAt
           OR (received_at IS $receivedAt AND sent_at < $sentAt)
         )
-      ORDER BY received_at DESC, sent_at DESC
+      ORDER BY received_at ASC, sent_at ASC
       LIMIT $limit;
       `
     )
@@ -4157,6 +4173,21 @@ async function getLastStoryReadsForAuthor({
     });
 }
 
+async function countStoryReadsByConversation(
+  conversationId: string
+): Promise<number> {
+  const db = getInstance();
+  return db
+    .prepare<Query>(
+      `
+      SELECT COUNT(storyId) FROM storyReads
+      WHERE conversationId = $conversationId;
+      `
+    )
+    .pluck()
+    .get({ conversationId });
+}
+
 // All data in database
 async function removeAll(): Promise<void> {
   const db = getInstance();
diff --git a/ts/state/ducks/stories.ts b/ts/state/ducks/stories.ts
index 1cacd2f96..58f705fbc 100644
--- a/ts/state/ducks/stories.ts
+++ b/ts/state/ducks/stories.ts
@@ -12,12 +12,17 @@ import type { StateType as RootStateType } from '../reducer';
 import type { StoryViewType } from '../../components/StoryListItem';
 import type { SyncType } from '../../jobs/helpers/syncHelpers';
 import * as log from '../../logging/log';
+import dataInterface from '../../sql/Client';
 import { ReadStatus } from '../../messages/MessageReadStatus';
 import { ToastReactionFailed } from '../../components/ToastReactionFailed';
+import { UUID } from '../../types/UUID';
 import { enqueueReactionForSend } from '../../reactions/enqueueReactionForSend';
 import { getMessageById } from '../../messages/getMessageById';
 import { markViewed } from '../../services/MessageUpdater';
+import { queueAttachmentDownloads } from '../../util/queueAttachmentDownloads';
+import { replaceIndex } from '../../util/replaceIndex';
 import { showToast } from '../../util/showToast';
+import { isDownloaded, isDownloading } from '../../types/Attachment';
 import { useBoundActions } from '../../hooks/useBoundActions';
 import { viewSyncJobQueue } from '../../jobs/viewSyncJobQueue';
 import { viewedReceiptsJobQueue } from '../../jobs/viewedReceiptsJobQueue';
@@ -40,13 +45,14 @@ export type StoriesStateType = {
 
 // Actions
 
-const ADD_STORY = 'stories/ADD_STORY';
+const MARK_STORY_READ = 'stories/MARK_STORY_READ';
 const REACT_TO_STORY = 'stories/REACT_TO_STORY';
+const STORY_CHANGED = 'stories/STORY_CHANGED';
 const TOGGLE_VIEW = 'stories/TOGGLE_VIEW';
 
-type AddStoryActionType = {
-  type: typeof ADD_STORY;
-  payload: StoryDataType;
+type MarkStoryReadActionType = {
+  type: typeof MARK_STORY_READ;
+  payload: string;
 };
 
 type ReactToStoryActionType = {
@@ -57,38 +63,38 @@ type ReactToStoryActionType = {
   };
 };
 
+type StoryChangedActionType = {
+  type: typeof STORY_CHANGED;
+  payload: StoryDataType;
+};
+
 type ToggleViewActionType = {
   type: typeof TOGGLE_VIEW;
 };
 
 export type StoriesActionType =
-  | AddStoryActionType
+  | MarkStoryReadActionType
   | MessageDeletedActionType
   | ReactToStoryActionType
+  | StoryChangedActionType
   | ToggleViewActionType;
 
 // Action Creators
 
 export const actions = {
-  addStory,
   markStoryRead,
+  queueStoryDownload,
   reactToStory,
   replyToStory,
+  storyChanged,
   toggleStoriesView,
 };
 
 export const useStoriesActions = (): typeof actions => useBoundActions(actions);
 
-function addStory(story: StoryDataType): AddStoryActionType {
-  return {
-    type: ADD_STORY,
-    payload: story,
-  };
-}
-
 function markStoryRead(
   messageId: string
-): ThunkAction<void, RootStateType, unknown, NoopActionType> {
+): ThunkAction<void, RootStateType, unknown, MarkStoryReadActionType> {
   return async (dispatch, getState) => {
     const { stories } = getState().stories;
 
@@ -109,7 +115,9 @@ function markStoryRead(
       return;
     }
 
-    markViewed(message.attributes, Date.now());
+    const storyReadDate = Date.now();
+
+    markViewed(message.attributes, storyReadDate);
 
     const viewedReceipt = {
       messageId,
@@ -125,6 +133,55 @@ function markStoryRead(
 
     viewedReceiptsJobQueue.add({ viewedReceipt });
 
+    await dataInterface.addNewStoryRead({
+      authorId: message.attributes.sourceUuid,
+      conversationId: message.attributes.conversationId,
+      storyId: new UUID(messageId).toString(),
+      storyReadDate,
+    });
+
+    dispatch({
+      type: MARK_STORY_READ,
+      payload: messageId,
+    });
+  };
+}
+
+function queueStoryDownload(
+  storyId: string
+): ThunkAction<void, RootStateType, unknown, NoopActionType> {
+  return async dispatch => {
+    const story = await getMessageById(storyId);
+
+    if (!story) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const storyAttributes: MessageAttributesType = story.attributes;
+    const { attachments } = storyAttributes;
+    const attachment = attachments && attachments[0];
+
+    if (!attachment) {
+      log.warn('queueStoryDownload: No attachment found for story', {
+        storyId,
+      });
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (isDownloaded(attachment)) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (isDownloading(attachment)) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    // We want to ensure that we re-hydrate the story reply context with the
+    // completed attachment download.
+    story.set({ storyReplyContext: undefined });
+
+    await queueAttachmentDownloads(story.attributes);
+
     dispatch({
       type: 'NOOP',
       payload: null,
@@ -188,6 +245,13 @@ function replyToStory(
   };
 }
 
+function storyChanged(story: StoryDataType): StoryChangedActionType {
+  return {
+    type: STORY_CHANGED,
+    payload: story,
+  };
+}
+
 function toggleStoriesView(): ToggleViewActionType {
   return {
     type: TOGGLE_VIEW,
@@ -226,7 +290,7 @@ export function reducer(
     };
   }
 
-  if (action.type === ADD_STORY) {
+  if (action.type === STORY_CHANGED) {
     const newStory = pick(action.payload, [
       'attachment',
       'conversationId',
@@ -238,18 +302,35 @@ export function reducer(
       'timestamp',
     ]);
 
-    // TODO DEKTOP-3179
-    // ADD_STORY fires whenever the message model changes so we check if this
-    // story already exists in state -- if it does then we don't need to re-add.
-    const hasStory = state.stories.find(
+    // Stories don't really need to change except for when we don't have the
+    // attachment downloaded and we queue a download. Then the story's message
+    // will have the new attachment information. This is an optimization so
+    // we don't needlessly re-render.
+    const prevStory = state.stories.find(
       existingStory => existingStory.messageId === newStory.messageId
     );
-    if (hasStory) {
-      return state;
+    if (prevStory) {
+      const shouldReplace =
+        (!isDownloaded(prevStory.attachment) &&
+          isDownloaded(newStory.attachment)) ||
+        isDownloading(newStory.attachment);
+
+      if (!shouldReplace) {
+        return state;
+      }
+
+      const storyIndex = state.stories.findIndex(
+        existingStory => existingStory.messageId === newStory.messageId
+      );
+
+      return {
+        ...state,
+        stories: replaceIndex(state.stories, storyIndex, newStory),
+      };
     }
 
-    const stories = [newStory, ...state.stories].sort((a, b) =>
-      a.timestamp > b.timestamp ? -1 : 1
+    const stories = [...state.stories, newStory].sort((a, b) =>
+      a.timestamp > b.timestamp ? 1 : -1
     );
 
     return {
@@ -274,5 +355,21 @@ export function reducer(
     };
   }
 
+  if (action.type === MARK_STORY_READ) {
+    return {
+      ...state,
+      stories: state.stories.map(story => {
+        if (story.messageId === action.payload) {
+          return {
+            ...story,
+            readStatus: ReadStatus.Viewed,
+          };
+        }
+
+        return story;
+      }),
+    };
+  }
+
   return state;
 }
diff --git a/ts/state/selectors/stories.ts b/ts/state/selectors/stories.ts
index abcf583f3..7a6660aa8 100644
--- a/ts/state/selectors/stories.ts
+++ b/ts/state/selectors/stories.ts
@@ -24,13 +24,22 @@ export const shouldShowStoriesView = createSelector(
 export const getStories = createSelector(
   getConversationSelector,
   getStoriesState,
+  shouldShowStoriesView,
   (
     conversationSelector,
-    { stories }: Readonly<StoriesStateType>
+    { stories }: Readonly<StoriesStateType>,
+    isShowingStoriesView
   ): {
     hiddenStories: Array<ConversationStoryType>;
     stories: Array<ConversationStoryType>;
   } => {
+    if (!isShowingStoriesView) {
+      return {
+        hiddenStories: [],
+        stories: [],
+      };
+    }
+
     const storiesById = new Map<string, ConversationStoryType>();
     const hiddenStoriesById = new Map<string, ConversationStoryType>();
 
@@ -90,9 +99,10 @@ export const getStories = createSelector(
       });
     });
 
+    // Reversing so that the story list is in DESC order
     return {
-      hiddenStories: Array.from(hiddenStoriesById.values()),
-      stories: Array.from(storiesById.values()),
+      hiddenStories: Array.from(hiddenStoriesById.values()).reverse(),
+      stories: Array.from(storiesById.values()).reverse(),
     };
   }
 );
diff --git a/ts/test-electron/sql/stories_test.ts b/ts/test-electron/sql/stories_test.ts
index 8120c54c6..f73e29171 100644
--- a/ts/test-electron/sql/stories_test.ts
+++ b/ts/test-electron/sql/stories_test.ts
@@ -93,15 +93,15 @@ describe('sql/stories', () => {
       });
       assert.lengthOf(stories, 4, 'expect four total stories');
 
-      // They are in DESC order
+      // They are in ASC order
       assert.strictEqual(
         stories[0].id,
-        story5.id,
+        story1.id,
         'stories first should be story5'
       );
       assert.strictEqual(
         stories[3].id,
-        story1.id,
+        story5.id,
         'stories last should be story1'
       );
 
@@ -115,15 +115,15 @@ describe('sql/stories', () => {
         'expect two stories in conversaton'
       );
 
-      // They are in DESC order
+      // They are in ASC order
       assert.strictEqual(
         storiesInConversation[0].id,
-        story4.id,
+        story1.id,
         'storiesInConversation first should be story4'
       );
       assert.strictEqual(
         storiesInConversation[1].id,
-        story1.id,
+        story4.id,
         'storiesInConversation last should be story1'
       );
 
@@ -133,15 +133,15 @@ describe('sql/stories', () => {
       });
       assert.lengthOf(storiesByAuthor, 2, 'expect two stories by author');
 
-      // They are in DESC order
+      // They are in ASC order
       assert.strictEqual(
         storiesByAuthor[0].id,
-        story5.id,
+        story2.id,
         'storiesByAuthor first should be story5'
       );
       assert.strictEqual(
         storiesByAuthor[1].id,
-        story2.id,
+        story5.id,
         'storiesByAuthor last should be story2'
       );
     });
@@ -213,15 +213,15 @@ describe('sql/stories', () => {
       });
       assert.lengthOf(stories, 2, 'expect two stories');
 
-      // They are in DESC order
+      // They are in ASC order
       assert.strictEqual(
         stories[0].id,
-        story3.id,
+        story2.id,
         'stories first should be story3'
       );
       assert.strictEqual(
         stories[1].id,
-        story2.id,
+        story3.id,
         'stories last should be story2'
       );
     });
diff --git a/ts/types/Attachment.ts b/ts/types/Attachment.ts
index 885dbda91..6595a8923 100644
--- a/ts/types/Attachment.ts
+++ b/ts/types/Attachment.ts
@@ -695,10 +695,18 @@ export function isGIF(attachments?: ReadonlyArray<AttachmentType>): boolean {
   return hasFlag && isVideoAttachment(attachment);
 }
 
-export function hasNotDownloaded(attachment?: AttachmentType): boolean {
+export function isDownloaded(attachment?: AttachmentType): boolean {
+  return Boolean(attachment && attachment.path);
+}
+
+export function hasNotResolved(attachment?: AttachmentType): boolean {
   return Boolean(attachment && !attachment.url);
 }
 
+export function isDownloading(attachment?: AttachmentType): boolean {
+  return Boolean(attachment && attachment.downloadJobId && attachment.pending);
+}
+
 export function hasVideoBlurHash(attachments?: Array<AttachmentType>): boolean {
   const firstAttachment = attachments ? attachments[0] : null;
 
diff --git a/ts/util/shouldDownloadStory.ts b/ts/util/shouldDownloadStory.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..54ad4bc2b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ts/util/shouldDownloadStory.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+// Copyright 2022 Signal Messenger, LLC
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
+
+import type { ConversationAttributesType } from '../model-types.d';
+
+import dataInterface from '../sql/Client';
+
+const MAX_NUM_STORIES_TO_PREFETCH = 5;
+
+export async function shouldDownloadStory(
+  conversation: ConversationAttributesType
+): Promise<boolean> {
+  if (!conversation.hasPostedStory) {
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  const [storyReads, storyCounts] = await Promise.all([
+    dataInterface.countStoryReadsByConversation(conversation.id),
+    dataInterface.getStoryCount(conversation.id),
+  ]);
+
+  return storyReads > 0 && storyCounts <= MAX_NUM_STORIES_TO_PREFETCH;
+}