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Tag Archives: dam safety

Dramatic illustration showing the massive wall of water from the failed South Fork Dam crashing down on Johnstown's Victorian buildings as people flee toward higher ground

The Johnstown Flood of 1889: Pennsylvania’s Great Disaster

Events & Turning Points, Landmarks & ArchitectureBy userApril 13, 2025

On May 31, 1889, a wall of water surged down the Conemaugh Valley in Pennsylvania, wiping entire communities off the map in what remains one of the deadliest disasters in American history. The Johnstown Flood, as it came to be known, was more than just a tragedy—it was a watershed moment that revealed the dangers…

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