SS Eastland

The Eastland disaster

The SS Eastland was a passenger ship based in Chicago and used for tours on the Chicago River. On July 24, 1915, the ship rolled over onto her side while tied to a dock in the Chicago River.

A total of 844 passengers and crew were killed in what was the largest loss of life from a single shipwreck on the Great Lakes.

After the disaster, Eastland was saved and sold to the United States Navy. After restorations and modifications, Eastland was designated a gunboat and renamed USS Wilmette. She was used primarily as a training vessel on the Great Lakes, and was scrapped after World War II.

References

  1. 1 2 "Eastland Memorial Society". Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2009.
  2. ↑ Baillod, Brendon. "Introduction". The Wreck of the Steamer Lady Elgin. Archived from the original on July 27, 2015. Retrieved April 26, 2009.