Johnstown Flood Museum - Johnstown, Pennsylvania - museum commemorating the 1889 Johnstown flood tragedy

In 1889, a huge storm led to a flood in the Johnstown area. This was not an unusual occurrence in the spring in this city, but this storm turned into a large tragedy when a neglected dam above the city burst, and millions of gallons of water came rushing into the city carrying tons of debris. Many of the residents of Johnstown had decided to ride out the storm, and typically they would have been safe marooned on the top stories of their homes as water seeped into their basements and first floors. However, the rush of water from the dam acted like a tsunami, and over 2,200 people died in the disaster.

The Johnstown Flood Museum honors the victims of this tragedy and the people who helped to rebuild the destroyed town over the next few years. There are a number of exhibits to explore after learning the story of the flood as visitors come into the museum. Guests can see the multimedia map relief map, which shoes the path of the water from the point where the rain started to the moment when the dam burst, and beyond, to the time period when the dam waters began to subside from the flooded Conemaugh Valley.

The dam was owned by the South Fork Fishing & Hunting Club, who neglected to repair and maintain the dam, even though they enjoyed the reservoir and surrounding area. So, an important part of the museum is the exhibit that showcases this outdoor club. In addition, there are a number of artifacts recovered from the flood, including a bottle of the actual floodwater and items related to the recovery process, including a morgue book, mementos left for victims, and Red Cross supply kits. The museum also has clippings from newspapers that covered the disaster, which have a number of Victorian stereographic photographs.

One of the most interesting parts of the museum is the replica Oklahoma House. This exhibit was created in 2000 to show the temporary houses were built following the flood to house refugees. These homes were originally constructed as quick housing options for those moving to the Oklahoma Territory, but worked well as housing until new homes could be built. Unfortunately, many families in this area could not afford to build new houses very quickly, since the flood was determined "an act of God'' and lawsuits against the outdoor club were dismissed. The Oklahoma Houses were not meant to withstand harsh Pennsylvania winters, so many families suffered in the years following the flood.

A ticket to the Johnstown Flood Museum also gives visitors admission to the Frank & Sylvia Pasquerilla Heritage Discovery Center, which is home to the Johnstown Children's Museum and the Iron & Steel Gallery, as well as the Wagner-Ritter House & Garden. Admission costs $7 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $5 for child aged 3 through 18. Tickets are good for five days, so travelers who are visiting the area can enjoy all of the attractions in the area without trying to hurry through the network of locations. Guests can visit the Johnstown Flood museum year-round from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily, with extended hours between Memorial Day and Labor Day, as well as special hours around the holidays.