The Johnstown Flood

Additional The Johnstown Flood Information

At the end of the last century, Johnstown, Pennsylvania was a booming coal-and-steel town filled with hardworking families striving for a piece of the nation's burgeoning industrial prosperity. In the mountains above Johnstown, an old earth dam had been hastily rebuilt to create a lake for an exclusive summer resort patronized by the tycoons of that same industrial prosperity, among them Andrew Carnegie, Henry Clay Frick, and Andrew Mellon. Despite repeated warnings of possible danger, nothing was done about the dam. Then came May 31, 1889, when the dam burst, sending a wall of water thundering down the mountain, smashing through Johnstown, and killing more than 2,000 people. It was a tragedy that became a national scandal.

Graced by David McCullough's remarkable gift for writing richly textured, sympathetic social history, The Johnstown Flood is an absorbing portrait of life in nineteenth-century America, of overweening confidence, of energy, and of tragedy. This is a powerful historical lesson for our century and all times: the danger of assuming that because people are in positions of responsibility they are behaving responsibly.

What Customers Say About The Johnstown Flood:

McCullough does an excellent job educating the reader about the Flood, the events that led up to the flood and the aftermath, while also bringing the human aspect, the loss and pain that many people went through as a result of this disaster.

A little known event (at least to me) in a little known place (at least to me) that happened well over 100 years ago.who would have thought that it could be the basis for a very fascinating and riveting story.Being somewhat of a history buff, especially of 19th century United States, I was drawn to this book of course by it's famous author. The story reads very well, eyewitness accounts can only begin to describe the horrible event that took place at that time. It can be disputed whether this could really be called a natural disaster as one chapter is aptly named "our misery is the work of man" , but having seen today the devestating effects that water can have when uncontrolled (Hurricanes, Tsunamis) makes you appreciate living on higher ground.A very good book - highly recommended to others.

I was hooked the first page. It took awhile to realize the author was giving a lot of background so that by the time the actually flood happened the reader was invested in the area. McCullough did a great job on this one. Fascinating book.

McCullogh told the back story, the story of the devestation, and the after effects. Topped only by sept 11 and the galveston flood of 1900, the Johnstown flood killed thousands, did humungous property damage, and showed the differences betwixt rich and poor.I learned so much history from this book. The Johnstown flood is one of the worst 3 disasters on American soil. it was informative and gripping.There were parts of the story that were rather hard to pace. Being from PA, I cannot believe I never really even knew about this, except we still pay a tax on liquor because of this tragedy. But the way Mr. Also, there were so many characters introduced that when their final fates were told in the end, it was in some cases hard to place them. But over all, I really enjoyed this book.(*)>

I actually listened to the audiobook of this. My great uncle, his wife and seven children all died. I have studied my family history and learned my family had a reunion the day before. I am the decendent of a survivor of the Johnstown Flood. David McCullough has allowed me to travel back in time, experience the fateful catestrophic flood as if I were there and mourn in a real way for ancestors lost before I was ever born. My great grandfather's brother's entire family perished in the flood. It was enthralling. Their names are on the wall at the Johnstown Flood Museum.

They lived in Woodvale which was in the direct path of the flood. Only bedrock remained after the waters rushed through. The next day was the flood and my great grandfather would never see his brother and family again. Thanks, what a great book.