2024 Visit Johnstown Visitors Guidev12 spreads for Web - Flipbook - Page 26
Johnstown Flood National Memorial
134 YEARS AGO in the waning
years of the nineteenth century,
the steel barons from Pittsburgh
enjoyed a private retreat in the
mountains of Cambria County.
Known as the South Fork Fishing
and Hunting Club, the members
included Andrew Carnegie and
Henry Clay Frick. The club boasted
a multi-acre lake, boathouses,
and cottages. A large clubhouse
served as a hotel and restaurant
for members and their guests.
Life was easy along the lake until
the rains came that day. The
storm began on Memorial Day
and continued through the night.
On May 31, 1889, rising water in
the lake breached the South Fork
Dam, sending twenty million
tons of water roaring through the
Conemaugh Valley. The massive
wall of water destroyed everything
in its path. Houses, railroad cars
and other debris all became part
of the deadly mix that crashed into
Johnstown and literally swept the
town away. When it was all over,
2,209 people were dead; but from
the destruction rose a spirit of
survival and commitment that
is still alive in Johnstown.
Learn the shocking story of the
Great Johnstown Flood of 1889 and
Johnstown’s remarkable recovery!
An unforgettable journey through
a poignant time in Johnstown’s
history awaits those who embark
upon it. Here, the lessons of the
past still apply today. Learn more
by visiting the following sites and
points of interest.
The flood was the worst natural
disaster of the 19th century.
26 visitjohnstownpa.com
