|
 he
date May 31, 1889 does not conjure up the same images in the
American consciousness that the dates December 7th and September
11th now do. But it wasn't always that way. At 3:10 PM on
Friday, May 31, 1889 the inadequate and neglected South Fork
Dam broke during a horrendous rainstorm and dumped twenty
million tons of water towards Johnstown, Pennsylvania. After
the rushing waters receded over twenty-two hundred people
had perished and the city was in ruins.
he
"Great Flood" was covered intensely by newspapers
throughout the nation and donations for disaster relief and
aid were unparalleled in history. This also presented the
first major disaster for Clara Barton's newly formed Red Cross.
All eyes and ears were focused intently on Johnstown and people
were eager to read about the tragedy.
he
Johnstown Flood Museum is dedicated to the remembrance of
the horrifying events of that day; as well as, its avoidable
causes and the pride and rebirth of the city. The museum is
filled with ghostly artifacts that once adorned the homes
of the flood victims and relics that have become chilling
reminders of the past.
 n
the center of the first room there is a fiber optic model
depicting Johnstown and the surrounding landscape. From this
model you can follow the path of the "Flood" as
it made its way from the dam to the city below. You will also
learn about the many people whose heroic actions helped save
lives along the way. Just to the right of this room is the
Oklahoma House, which is a pre-fabricated small cabin that
was used by early settlers. It was in homes like this that
many people found refuge after thousands were left homeless
from the "Flood". It is a simply furnished cabin
that could provide only the most necessary needs, especially
when it was overcrowded with people who had just lost everything.
 pstairs
is decorated with multiple photographs showing the people
of Johnstown over a century ago and today. It is a wonderful
tribute to the diligence and persistence of a proud people
as they reclaimed their city and their lives. Also located
on this floor is a theater where you can view the Academy-Award
winning documentary, The Johnstown Flood. Created in 1989
this is a gripping film that takes the viewer through the
ill-fated circumstances that began that tragic day.
 n
the third floor is a beautifully crafted room where you can
view another film. This one, however, is in 3-D. Stereoview
images had become quite popular at the time of the "Flood"
and hundreds of photographers rushed to Johnstown to produce
memorable shots of the city in distress. Complementing the
3-D images are spoken accounts concerning the events of the
day from the writings of those who survived it.
he
Johnstown Flood Museum acts as more than just a reminder of
a horrific tragedy. Johnstown established itself again rather
quickly after the "Flood" and began rebuilding immediately.
And although the statistics and devastating stories have a
deep impact, the past is a testimony to this city's ability
to overcome adversity.
|
Click on the picture to enlarge
it
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
