Stereo View Gallery - Damage Done by the Johnstown Flood of 1889

Damage Done by the Johnstown Flood of 1889

Many photographers took special "stereo views" that made their photos look three-dimensional. First they took the pictures with a camera that had two lenses (like binoculars). The pictures were printed side-by-side. People used a viewer called a "stereopticon" to blend the two pictures into one three-dimensional image. The "Viewmaster" and 3-D books and movies of today work in a similar way. See a stereo card and stereopticon on this page.

Stereo views were a new fad in 1889. Photographers liked being able to sell their pictures this way, since printing photos in newspapers, magazines, or books was still difficult and expensive. People bought thousands of stereo cards of the Johnstown Flood. Three-dimensional pictures really helped people understand how bad the flood damage was.

If you have 3-D glasses, you can see the same stereo views people saw with their stereopticons! Put your glasses on with the red lens over your left eye and the blue lens over your right eye. Click on the images below to view a larger image. To help you see as much as possible from these photographs, use the tool "Reading a Photograph." If you don't have 3-D glasses, you can view the same photographs here. View other photographs of the flood destruction here.

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The Little Conemaugh River flowing past the offices of Cambria Iron which withstood the flood	The Schultz house, pierced by a tree, was a popular subject among photographers.	Flood debris piled 40 feet high on the Main Street.
A few of the structures still standing after the flood.	Flood debris along the riverbank.	The flood came through the gap in the mountains.
Wreckage from the 1889 Flood.	Wreckage from the 1889 Flood.	The flood wiped out almost everything in its path.
Wreckage from the flood with the Schultz house in the background on left.	Wreckage from the 1889 Flood. Burned remains of St. John's Roman Catholic Church can be seen in the background.	Wreckage from the 1889 Flood.
The flood left parts of houses everywhere. Notice the house on the left is laying on its side.	Wreckage from the flood with the stone bridge in the background.	Although still standing, this structure sustained major damage from the flood.
Wreckage from the 1889 Flood.	Wreckage from the 1889 Flood.	Railroad tracks running through the flood wreckage. Cambria Iron Works in background.
Wreckage from the flood. Notice the house on the right is laying on its side.	Wreckage from the 1889 Flood.	Wreckage from the 1889 Flood.
Wreckage from the 1889 Flood.	Wreckage from the 1889 Flood.	Wreckage from the 1889 Flood.
Wreckage from the 1889 Flood.	Wreckage from the 1889 Flood with the stone bridge in the background. The body in the foreground is a hoax. Any body so obvious placed would long since have been recovered. Notice how clean his shirt and clothes appear.	Wreckage from the 1889 Flood.
Wreckage from the 1889 Flood. Notice the Schultz house in the background to the left.	Wreckage from the 1889 Flood. Notice the railroad car in the foreground and the makeshift bridge over the river.	Wreckage from the 1889 Flood surrounds these buildings on Railroad Street.