West Ventura Earthquake – California – December 12, 1812
An earthquake of magnitude 7.1 struck western Ventura, including Santa Barbara. Extensive damage was done
Natural
Owens Valley Earthquake – California – March 26, 1872
The town of Lone Pine, California, was hit with an earthquake of magnitude 7.4. This
Bangladesh Cyclone – October 31, 1876
A cyclone in the area we now know as Bangladesh destroyed the city of Chittagong.
Krakatau Volcanic Eruption – Indonesia – August 27, 1883
Krakatau was seen before the eruption as a small group of islands with the main
Charleston Earthquake – South Carolina – August 31, 1886
Charleston, South Carolina, experienced the most powerful earthquake ever to strike the east coast of
Yellow River Flood – China – 1887 AD
High rain fall caused the Yellow River to overtop its banks leading to a widespread
Japan Earthquake – October 28, 1891
The Nobi Region north of Nagoya, Japan, was hit with an earthquake of magnitude 8.
Louisville Tornado – Kentucky – March 27, 1890
A tornado of strength 4 struck Louisville, Kentucky, killing seventy-six. The tornado’s path was wider
Johnstown Flood – Pennsylvania – May 31, 1889
The town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, was devastated by the nation’s worst flood. Poor maintenance had
Imperial Valley Earthquake – California – February 23, 1892
An area close to the California–Mexico border experienced an earthquake of magnitude 7.8. Damage was
Georgia/South Carolina Hurricane – August 1893
A hurricane of strength 3 struck South Carolina and Georgia in 1893 killing 1,500, making
Louisiana Hurricane – October 2, 1893
A hurricane of strength 4 struck the area southeast of present-day New Orleans. This hurricane
St. Louis Tornado – Missouri – May 27, 1896
A series of tornadoes struck St. Louis and east St. Louis. Two of the tornadoes,
Sanriku Earthquake and Tsunami – Japan – June 15, 1896
This disaster included a powerful earthquake of magnitude 8.5, followed by a massive tsunami. It
Connecticut Earthquake – May 16, 1791
The earthquake in 1791 was Connecticut’s biggest earthquake up to that time. The earthquake hit
New Madrid Earthquakes 1811 and 1812 – Missouri
The New Madrid earthquakes of 1811 and 1812 were the most powerful to hit contiguous
Tambora Volcanic Eruption – Indonesia – April 5, 1815
The earth’s biggest eruption within historic times hit Indonesia in 1815. This eruption had a
Natchez Tornado – Mississippi – May 7, 1840
Natchez was almost totally destroyed by a mile-wide tornado and 317 lives were lost. Shortly
Most Recent
Famous Last Words: The Chilling Final Moments of Historical Figures
Overview The final words spoken by an individual offer a unique and powerful window
First-Hand Accounts: What It Was Like to Live Through the Dust Bowl
Overview The Dust Bowl was a decade-long environmental and economic catastrophe that struck the American
The Unsolved Mystery of the Titanic’s Sister Ship, the Britannic
Overview In the cold waters of the Aegean Sea rests the world’s largest sunken passenger
The Most Infamous Cults in American History
Overview The term “cult” is one of the most fraught and controversial in modern language.
