Remembering Eastland Disaster Almost 100 Years Later
(CBS) -- 2015 will be a year of remembering the Eastland disaster, which killed more than 800 people on the Chicago River near Clark Street in 1915.
The anniversary, and the effort to revitalize Chicago's riverfront, is the topic of this week's "At Issue."
On Saturday, July 24, 1915 the passenger ship Eastland was docked in downtown Chicago on the Chicago River preparing for a Lake Michigan cruise to Michigan City, Indiana for a Western Electric employee picnic.
Podcast
Ted Wachholz Executive Director and Chief Historian of the Eastland Disaster Historical Society says "....It had already finished boarding over 2,500 people had been placed on board and in a matter of two to five minutes the ship rolled over, while still tied to the wharf along the Chicago River and 844 people died in a manner of a few minutes...even today I still really can't fathom what it would been like to experience even one small part of it."
Andrew White is Artistic Director at Lookingglass Theatre Company which staged a dramatic production about the Eastland Disaster.
"What is it mean that we lose touch with and contact with these significant events?"
White says remembering the Eastland is a great way to build Chicago's riverfront.
"There's so much to celebrate along Chicago's river and these should be one of those landmarks."
And Wachholz and White others are working to make Chicagoans remember the tragedy of that day, while learning to further celebrate the city's riverfront where the disaster happened.
"We are also still working with the city of Chicago to do a permanent cultural, historical presence along the new Chicago River walk."
At Issue airs every Sunday on WBBM AM 780/105.9 FM at 9:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. To download the full episode, visit cbschicago.com/audio.
For more information, visit the Eastland Disaster Historical Society Facebook page.
