Ever heard the saying “slower than molasses”? Turns out it’s not true. Molasses can move pretty fast — a fact Boston residents learned the hard way nearly a century ago in what was one of the strangest disasters in American history.
Just after 12:30 p.m. on January 15, 1919, a Purity Distilling Company molasses storage tank exploded in the city’s North End. As many as 2.3 million gallons of the sticky liquid spilled out in a matter of seconds.
The resulting wave spread out across a two-block radius. It flattened offices and homes, and it lifted a firehouse off of its foundation. The molasses swept away vehicles and horse-drawn carriages, and it even moved with enough force to warp the girders of the Atlantic Avenue Elevated train tracks. Those who found themselves in the flood’s path were carried away, crushed, or drowned.
Molasses Tank Before Explosion
A view of the molasses tank before the explosion.
View Of Damage From Train Tracks
An overhead view of the flood aftermath from the elevated train tracks.
Aftermath Of Boston Molasses Flood
Citizens walk atop the damaged train trestle to survey damage.
Beneath The Destroyed Train Trestle
Flood damage as seen from beneath the destroyed train trestle.
Crowd Assessing Flood Damage
A crowd gathers to clean up the damage and search for any survivors.
Destroyed Railroad Car
A railroad car that was destroyed in the flood.
Destroyed Train Tracks
A view of the destroyed train trestle from atop the tracks.
Molasses In The Streets
Puddles of sticky molasses cool in the cold, winter air.
Overhead View Of Molasses Flood Damage
Molasses floods the streets as rescuers try to look for survivors.
Boston Molasses Disaster Wreckage
The chaotic aftermath of the Boston molasses disaster.
Firefighters at the Boston Molasses Disaster
Navy personnel and firefighters rush to the scene.
Tank explosion from Boston Molasses Disaster
Onlookers stand near the tank 30 minutes after the explosion.
Molasses Flood In Boston
Atlantic Avenue railway tracks over Commercial Street twisted by the force of the flood.
Leveled Buildings
Buildings leveled by the flood.
Vehicles Destroyed
Wrecked cars and debris lay strewn beneath the elevated railway.
Firehouse 31 After The Boston Molasses Flood
Firehouse 31, ripped from its foundation by the flood.
Surveying The Damage
A man surveys the damage caused by the molasses flood.
Rescue Effort
Rescue workers, knee-high in molasses, struggle to free trapped victims.
Searching For Bodies
A welder works to cut the tank in search of bodies.
Aftermath Of The Boston Molasses Disaster
The Red Cross, firefighters, and Army and Navy personnel rush to the scene.
Torching The Tank
A worker uses an acetylene torch to cut through a section of the ruptured tank.
Debris
Debris strewn beneath the elevated tracks…