Destruction Caused by the Flood
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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.
To help you see as much as possible from these photographs, use the tool "Reading a Photograph." If you have 3-D glasses (with one red lens and one blue lens), you can view the same photographs here in 3-D.
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Stereo view card of flood debris. The men in the foreground are recovering a body. |
Cambria Iron offices survived the flood. A temporary bridge is shown here crossing the Little Conemaugh River. |
Stereo view card of flood debris on Main Street in Johnstown. |
Debris packed in against the stone bridge, which is visible here on the left. Cambria Iron Works is visible behind the bridge in the background. |
Debris removal has already begun and the stone bridge is slowly being dug out. |
Wreckage from the 1889 Flood. |
Buildings that survived the floodwave were severely damaged. Many either collapsed later or were torn down. |
Some buildings survived. |
Flood debris in front of the stone bridge. Cambria Iron Works is visible in the background. |