On June 15, 1904, a steamboat caught fire on New York’s East River and killed 1,021 people. It was the deadliest disaster in New York City history until September 11, 2001. Most Americans have never heard of the General Slocum.
America’s Forgotten Disasters examines catastrophes that reshaped communities, changed federal law, and altered the course of American history — yet somehow vanished from collective memory. These are not minor incidents. They are events that killed hundreds or thousands, destroyed entire towns, and forced the nation to confront uncomfortable truths about negligence, corruption, and the price of progress.
Why We Forget
The pattern is consistent: a disaster occurs, the nation mourns, regulations are passed, and then the story fades. Within a generation, the event that prompted sweeping reform becomes a footnote. The General Slocum disaster led to complete overhauls of maritime safety law. The Halifax Explosion transformed urban planning. The Boston Molasses Flood established the precedent that corporations are responsible for the safety of their structures. These events changed how Americans live — and Americans forgot them.
The Treatment
Each episode opens at the moment of disaster, placing the viewer at the scene before pulling back to examine causes, responses, and lasting consequences. The tone is respectful but direct. These stories involve real people, real communities, and real suffering. They deserve to be told with gravity and precision.
New episodes premiere every Wednesday.
