St. Francis Dam Disaster

Images of America: California

by John Nichols

Minutes before midnight on the evening of March 12, 1928, the St. Francis Dam collapsed. The dam's 200-foot concrete wall crumpled, sending billions of gallons of raging flood waters down San Francisquito Canyon, sweeping 54 miles down the Santa Clara River to the sea, and claiming over 450 lives in the disaster. Captured here in over 200 images is a photographic record of the devastation caused by the flood, and the heroic efforts of residents and rescue workers. Built by the City of Los Angeles' Bureau of Water Works and Supply, the failure of the St. Francis Dam on its first filling was the greatest American civil engineering failure of the 20th century. Beginning at dawn on the morning after the disaster, stunned local residents picked up their cameras to record the path of destruction, and professional photographers moved in to take images of the washed-out bridges, destroyed homes and buildings, Red Cross workers giving aid, and the massive clean-up that followed. The event was one of the worst disasters in California's history, second only to the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire.

128 pages, Paperback

First published June 6, 2002

Reviews

[Ursula Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Photographic Record of the St. Francis Dam Disaster

There are a number of books that have been published about the failure of the St. Francis Dam, that destroyed parts of Los Angeles and Ventura County communities of Castaic, Piru, Fillmore, Santa Paula and more. This book is excellent because it is a photographic record of the disaster and its aftermath. It says more than many longer books because the pictures really show the damage the event caused. A must read for anyone interested in this historical record.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great photos

These photos were great. I loved looking at them but I guess I was expecting more of a storyline. For what it was, it was amazing.

[J R]

Read for research for my novel.

[Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great information, awful event. This was very important to my own research.

[Susie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review is based on the images, which were amazing - the writing, not so much... Still, an interesting read on a unique piece of local history

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Best used as a companion to Outland's "Man Made Disaster". This book has some excellent photos to help illustrate the players, places, and events of the tragedy.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book, mainly pictures of the disaster. I find this terrible tragedy very interesting, especially since I live/have lived/drive through all the time, most of the areas damaged by the disaster. I find the story overwhelming, both in the collapse of the dam and the effect it had on 1000s of people. Recently, was at one of the cemeteries where there is a mass burial of unidentified victims. Find it very sad that there is no marker for them. Unfortunate that few people are aware of this disaster anymore.