The American Tragedy No One Remembers

The fate of the SS Eastland - and the hundreds of people who lost their lives that day in 1915 - has fallen out of our collective consciousness. That's odd, considering it's one of the worst maritime disasters in U.S. history. This is the truth about the Eastland disaster, the tragedy no one remembers.

The day of the Eastland disaster started as an exciting one for employees of Hawthorne Works & Western Electric, because it was their company picnic. Events like this were a big deal. Employees and their families dressed up in their finest clothes to board a fancy passenger liner. The ship would take them across the water to Michigan City, Indiana where they would spend the day at the beautiful Washington Park.

For people who worked six days a week in the constant chaos of Chicago, it was a much-needed day for rest and relaxation. According to the Eastland Disaster Historical Society, many of the employees and their families showed up to board the Eastland as early as 6:30 AM.

Rescue efforts for the ship would be underway just an hour later.

Watch the video for more about The American Tragedy No One Remembers.

#SSEastland #EastlandDisaster

It started as a beautiful day | 0:00
Disaster strikes | 1:01
How did it happen? | 2:05
Heroes in a crisis | 3:10
Cutting holes | 4:13
A heavy toll | 4:49
A horrible injustice | 5:28
Why was it forgotten? | 6:13

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