Pittsburgh's Golden
Triangle - 1907
The Year of the Big Flood
March 15, 1907 brought the Big Flood to the city of Pittsburgh. Heavy rains and melting snow brought the river level to 38.7 feet, Almost fifteen feet above flood stage and the third highest in Pittsburgh's recorded history, which dates back to 1762. Many residents were unaware of the rapidly rising water but there were surprisingly few causalities. It was estimated that six to twelve people lost their lives due to the floodwaters. Property damage, however, was extensive, with total losses of over $5 million. Electricity was cut off and workers found themselves out of work due to mill and industrial plant closures.
At the time it was refered to as the "Great Flood," but that would happen twenty-nine years later, on Saint Patrick's Day, 1936. This flood, however, was quite devastating in it's own right. On the North Side the Pirate's Exposition Park was completely submerged. Afterwards, the city petitioned the government to take action on flood control. The Chamber of Commerce estimated that the persistent flooding in Pittsburgh had caused between $150,000,000 and $200,000,000 in damages to the city. Those that lived to see the Great Saint Patrick's Day Flood in March 1936 witnessed an even more cataclysmic blow, with the water rising to forty-six feet, reaching over fifteen feet on the Boulevard of the Allies. Flooding in Pittsburgh is a relatively seasonal occurance, but floods of this magnitude were rare. After the 1936 flood, the federal government finally took notice and allotted funding for a system of dams and reservoirs to provide a measure of flood control.
More Images From The Big Flood of 1907 Click on images for larger photos
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