The Sinking of the SS Eastland

The Sinking of the SS Eastland

The SS Eastland was a passenger ship that tragically capsized on the Chicago River on July 24, 1915. The disaster occurred while the ship was still docked, and passengers were boarding for a company picnic. The ship, top-heavy due to recent safety modifications, rolled over in the river, leading to the deaths of 844 passengers. The SS Eastland disaster remains one of the worst maritime tragedies in American history, yet it is less well-known than the sinking of the Titanic.