The Johnstown Flood

The Johnstown Flood of 1889 was one of the worst natural disasters in American history. It caused an unprecedented level of destruction and loss of life. But what was the cause of this horrific event, and could it have been avoided? And what do the circumstances around the flood, and its recovery, teach us about the best and worst of human nature?

Past PA illuminates the history of Pennsylvania. This digital series will bring a deeper understanding of important events that people have likely heard of but might not know very much about, and help people learn new stories about well-known events. Many of the events and individuals throughout the Commonwealth’s history have important lessons to teach us today.

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