How many people died in the molasses?

21 people
On this day over a century ago, Boston’s most peculiar disaster killed 21 people and injured 150 others. The Great Molasses Flood struck without warning at midday on Jan. 15, 1919. It was a sticky, deadly tsunami that flattened an entire neighborhood within seconds.

Did molasses almost destroy Boston?

On January 15th, 1919, in what was probably the most bizarre disaster in United States’ history, a storage tank burst on Boston’s waterfront releasing two million gallons of molasses in a 15 ft-high, 160 ft-wide wave that raced through the city’s north end at 35mph destroying everything it touched.

How much damage did the molasses flood cause?

This bizarre and terrifying event, known as the Great Molasses Flood, claimed 21 lives, with victims ranging in age from 10 to 78. Some 150 persons were injured, and the damage to property — much of which had cascaded into nearby Boston Harbor — amounted to about $100 million in today’s money.

Does Boston smell like molasses?

A 40-foot wave of molasses buckled the elevated railroad tracks, crushed buildings and inundated the neighborhood. Local legend has it that on particularly warm days, you can still smell the faint aroma of molasses seeping up from the streets of the old North End.

What is molasses made from?

Molasses is a product of the sugar beet and sugar cane refinement processes. Molasses from sugar cane is preferred for human consumption. Molasses is the ingredient in brown sugar that gives it its distinct color, flavor and moisture. Molasses contains more vitamins and minerals than other sugars.

Did anyone survive the molasses flood?

“No prominent people were killed in the molasses flood, and the survivors did not go on to become famous; they were mostly immigrants and city workers who returned to their workday lives, recovered from injuries, and provided for their families,” he wrote in the 2003 book.

Was there ever a molasses flood?

The Great Molasses Flood, also known as the Boston Molasses Disaster, occurred on January 15, 1919, in the North End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts.

Does Boston still smell like molasses today?

According to Nick LaBonte from Polcari’s Coffee, “Supposedly, you can still smell the molasses when it gets hot enough.” But today, molasses is not a common sight on the Boston waterfront.

When was the Boston molasses disaster?

January 15, 1919
Great Molasses Flood/Start dates
Fiery hot molasses floods the streets of Boston on January 15, 1919, killing 21 people and injuring scores of others. The molasses burst from a huge tank at the United States Industrial Alcohol Company building in the heart of the city.

Can you swim in molasses?

A wave of molasses does not behave like a wave of water. Molasses is a non-Newtonian fluid, which means that its viscosity depends on the forces applied to it, as measured by shear rate. Physics also explains why swimming in molasses is near impossible.

How many horses died in molasses Flood?

On January 15, 1919, the North End of Boston experienced an odd incident in which 2.3 million gallons of molasses exploded out of a tank and into the city. It knocked out some buildings and even led to a number of deaths. 21 people and 12 horses died.