30 Photos From the Great Molasses Flood of 1919, and Four Other Weird American Disasters

Daniel Bonfiglio Published 10/28/2024 in wow

From 9/11 to Pearl Harbor, the United States has been the subject of many devastating disasters. But some of them are much weirder than others.

For example, in 1919, a tank filled with 2.3 million gallons of molasses burst in Boston's North End, flowing through the city streets at 35 mph, killing 21 people.

Check out some photos of that unique tragedy, and four other odd, and lesser-known American man-made disasters.

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1.
Aftermath of the 1919 Great Molasses Flood in the North End of Boston. A tank filled with 2.3 million gallons of molasses burst. The resultant wave of molasses rushed through the streets at an estimated 35 mph, killing 21 and injuring 150. The sickly sweet smell lingered for decades.
2.
The aftermath of the Great Molasses Flood in Boston's North End neighborhood, 1919.
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Wreckage under elevated train tracks from the molasses disaster.
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Rescuers attempted to save the occupants of the Clougherty house, which was smashed against the elevated train trestle.
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Cleveland released 1.5 million balloons as part of a charity event called "The Great Balloon Race," raising money for children's health care. September 25, 1986.
9.
Tragically, but predictably, the balloons spread throughout the area, and caused significant ecological damage.
10.
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14.
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In 1981, two overhead walkways in the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri, collapsed. The incident killed 114 people, and was caused by a failure in structural integrity, originating from design flaws.
16.
The wreckage, after bodies were removed.
17.
18.
Civil engineers still closely study the deadly structural failure at the Hyatt Regency.
19.
Firefighters rescue people from under a collapsed walkway in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency Hotel.
20.
The Donora Smog of 1948 was a pollution event in Pennsylvania, caused by thick fog combining with pollution from the town's wire mill. The fog killed 20 people and caused respiratory problems for 6,000.
21.
The Donora Smog of 1948 began on October 27 and lasted until October 31, when rain cleared the combined smoke, fog and pollution that had become trapped over the town.
22.
Donora’s wire mill, shown in 1910.
23.
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25.
Unbeknown to most, the United States almost had its own Chernobyl when a nuclear reactor at Pennsylvania's Three Mile Island plant partially melted down.
26.
William Behrle, the first man to enter the Three Mile Island reactor containment building following its accident on March 28th, 1979.
27.
Technicians prepare to enter the TMI-2 reactor building for the first time since its 1979 partial meltdown.
28.
Night shift workers wearing protective clothing arrive at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station aboard a flatbed truck. Harrisburg, PA, USA, March 29th, 1979.
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1.
Aftermath of the 1919 Great Molasses Flood in the North End of Boston. A tank filled with 2.3 million gallons of molasses burst. The resultant wave of molasses rushed through the streets at an estimated 35 mph, killing 21 and injuring 150. The sickly sweet smell lingered for decades.
2.
The aftermath of the Great Molasses Flood in Boston's North End neighborhood, 1919.
3.
4.
Wreckage under elevated train tracks from the molasses disaster.
5.
6.
Rescuers attempted to save the occupants of the Clougherty house, which was smashed against the elevated train trestle.
7.
8.
Cleveland released 1.5 million balloons as part of a charity event called "The Great Balloon Race," raising money for children's health care. September 25, 1986.
9.
Tragically, but predictably, the balloons spread throughout the area, and caused significant ecological damage.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
In 1981, two overhead walkways in the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri, collapsed. The incident killed 114 people, and was caused by a failure in structural integrity, originating from design flaws.
16.
The wreckage, after bodies were removed.
17.
18.
Civil engineers still closely study the deadly structural failure at the Hyatt Regency.
19.
Firefighters rescue people from under a collapsed walkway in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency Hotel.
20.
The Donora Smog of 1948 was a pollution event in Pennsylvania, caused by thick fog combining with pollution from the town's wire mill. The fog killed 20 people and caused respiratory problems for 6,000.
21.
The Donora Smog of 1948 began on October 27 and lasted until October 31, when rain cleared the combined smoke, fog and pollution that had become trapped over the town.
22.
Donora’s wire mill, shown in 1910.
23.
24.
25.
Unbeknown to most, the United States almost had its own Chernobyl when a nuclear reactor at Pennsylvania's Three Mile Island plant partially melted down.
26.
William Behrle, the first man to enter the Three Mile Island reactor containment building following its accident on March 28th, 1979.
27.
Technicians prepare to enter the TMI-2 reactor building for the first time since its 1979 partial meltdown.
28.
Night shift workers wearing protective clothing arrive at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station aboard a flatbed truck. Harrisburg, PA, USA, March 29th, 1979.
29.

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Aftermath of the 1919 Great Molasses Flood in the North End of Boston. A tank filled with 2.3 million gallons of molasses burst. The resultant wave of molasses rushed through the streets at an estimated 35 mph, killing 21 and injuring 150. The sickly sweet smell lingered for decades.

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1. Aftermath of the 1919 Great Molasses Flood in the North End of Boston. A tank filled with 2.3 million gallons of molasses burst. The resultant wave of molasses rushed through the streets at an estimated 35 mph, killing 21 and injuring 150. The sickly sweet smell lingered for decades.

2. The aftermath of the Great Molasses Flood in Boston's North End neighborhood, 1919.

3.

4. Wreckage under elevated train tracks from the molasses disaster.

5.

6. Rescuers attempted to save the occupants of the Clougherty house, which was smashed against the elevated train trestle.

7.

8. Cleveland released 1.5 million balloons as part of a charity event called "The Great Balloon Race," raising money for children's health care. September 25, 1986.

9. Tragically, but predictably, the balloons spread throughout the area, and caused significant ecological damage.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15. In 1981, two overhead walkways in the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri, collapsed. The incident killed 114 people, and was caused by a failure in structural integrity, originating from design flaws.

16. The wreckage, after bodies were removed.

17.

18. Civil engineers still closely study the deadly structural failure at the Hyatt Regency.

19. Firefighters rescue people from under a collapsed walkway in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

20. The Donora Smog of 1948 was a pollution event in Pennsylvania, caused by thick fog combining with pollution from the town's wire mill. The fog killed 20 people and caused respiratory problems for 6,000.

21. The Donora Smog of 1948 began on October 27 and lasted until October 31, when rain cleared the combined smoke, fog and pollution that had become trapped over the town.

22. Donora’s wire mill, shown in 1910.

23.

24.

25. Unbeknown to most, the United States almost had its own Chernobyl when a nuclear reactor at Pennsylvania's Three Mile Island plant partially melted down.

26. William Behrle, the first man to enter the Three Mile Island reactor containment building following its accident on March 28th, 1979.

27. Technicians prepare to enter the TMI-2 reactor building for the first time since its 1979 partial meltdown.

28. Night shift workers wearing protective clothing arrive at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station aboard a flatbed truck. Harrisburg, PA, USA, March 29th, 1979.

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1.
Aftermath of the 1919 Great Molasses Flood in the North End of Boston. A tank filled with 2.3 million gallons of molasses burst. The resultant wave of molasses rushed through the streets at an estimated 35 mph, killing 21 and injuring 150. The sickly sweet smell lingered for decades.

2.
The aftermath of the Great Molasses Flood in Boston's North End neighborhood, 1919.

4.
Wreckage under elevated train tracks from the molasses disaster.

6.
Rescuers attempted to save the occupants of the Clougherty house, which was smashed against the elevated train trestle.

8.
Cleveland released 1.5 million balloons as part of a charity event called "The Great Balloon Race," raising money for children's health care. September 25, 1986.

9.
Tragically, but predictably, the balloons spread throughout the area, and caused significant ecological damage.

15.
In 1981, two overhead walkways in the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri, collapsed. The incident killed 114 people, and was caused by a failure in structural integrity, originating from design flaws.

16.
The wreckage, after bodies were removed.

18.
Civil engineers still closely study the deadly structural failure at the Hyatt Regency.

19.
Firefighters rescue people from under a collapsed walkway in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

20.
The Donora Smog of 1948 was a pollution event in Pennsylvania, caused by thick fog combining with pollution from the town's wire mill. The fog killed 20 people and caused respiratory problems for 6,000.

21.
The Donora Smog of 1948 began on October 27 and lasted until October 31, when rain cleared the combined smoke, fog and pollution that had become trapped over the town.

22.
Donora’s wire mill, shown in 1910.

25.
Unbeknown to most, the United States almost had its own Chernobyl when a nuclear reactor at Pennsylvania's Three Mile Island plant partially melted down.

26.
William Behrle, the first man to enter the Three Mile Island reactor containment building following its accident on March 28th, 1979.

27.
Technicians prepare to enter the TMI-2 reactor building for the first time since its 1979 partial meltdown.

28.
Night shift workers wearing protective clothing arrive at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station aboard a flatbed truck. Harrisburg, PA, USA, March 29th, 1979.