The Full Story of the Eastland Disaster (1915)

If you enjoyed this video, please consider joining my Patreon to help create more videos like this (especially since this video was demonetized)! To give a one-time tip, please visit: One of the worst maritime disasters in the United States actually occurred in downtown Chicago, at the Clark Street Wharf in 1915. The top-heavy, unstable SS Eastland took over 2,500 souls onboard and prepared to depart when she rolled over at her mooring. The causes over the long, slow-burning lead up to the Eastland Disaster are muddy and a bit confusing, but with the help of detailed computer recreations in Unreal Engine 5 and in cooperation with the Eastland Disaster Historical Society, we do our best to paint a broad picture of the life and death of the unlucky ship, looking at the happy memories, the near catastrophes, and the changes over her career that built up to this disaster. The Eastland Disaster Historical Society can be found at HistoBrick’s Lego Eastland kit can be found here: Listen to the full song “On the Boat Eastland“ here: The pronunciation of Calliope: Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction 1:29 - The Michigan Steamship Company 3:45 - Construction of Eastland 9:42 - Her First Season 12:28 - Instability Issues Begin 16:07 - Eastland at Cedar Point 21:05 - Eastland Returns to Chicago 25:15 - Eastland Sinks 38:30 - Rescue and Recovery 48:20 - The Aftermath 50:50 - The Criminal and Civil Trials 53:43 - USS Wilmette 56:05 - Eastland Site Today 58:55 - Acknowledgements and Conclusion