The Destruction of Johnstown - Revision history

Parkadmin at 06:09, 18 December 2025

2025-12-18T06:09:37Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:09, 18 December 2025
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	[[Category:Destroyed by Fire]]		[[Category:Destroyed by Fire]]

	{{#seo:\|description=The Destruction of Johnstown, or The Johnstown Flood, was a cyclorama attraction built and opened in 1910 at Olentangy Park.}}		{{#seo:
	~~{{#seo:~~\|keywords=Destruction of Johnstown, Johnstown Flood, Olentangy Park, Olentangy Amusement Park, Columbus, Clintonville}}		\|title = Johnstown Flood - Olentangy Park Wiki
			\|description = The Destruction of Johnstown, or The Johnstown Flood, was a cyclorama attraction built and opened in 1910 at Olentangy Park.
			\|keywords = Destruction of Johnstown, Johnstown Flood, Olentangy Park, Olentangy Amusement Park, Columbus, Clintonville
			}}

Parkadmin: Updated SEO

2025-12-03T19:55:19Z

Updated SEO

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:55, 3 December 2025
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	{{#seo:\|description=The Destruction of Johnstown, or The Johnstown Flood, was a cyclorama attraction built and opened in 1910 at Olentangy Park.}}		{{#seo:\|description=The Destruction of Johnstown, or The Johnstown Flood, was a cyclorama attraction built and opened in 1910 at Olentangy Park.}}
	{{#seo:\|keywords=Destruction of Johnstown, Johnstown Flood, Olentangy Park, Olentangy Amusement Park, ~~Olentangy Park~~ Columbus~~, Columbus amusement park, amusement park~~, Clintonville~~, defunct amusement park~~}}		{{#seo:\|keywords=Destruction of Johnstown, Johnstown Flood, Olentangy Park, Olentangy Amusement Park, Columbus, Clintonville}}

Parkadmin: /* Description */

2025-10-04T04:26:11Z

Description

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:26, 4 October 2025
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	''Johnstown Flood'' was a cyclorama found in many parks depicting the Great Flood of 1889 that devastated Johnstown, Pennsylvania, when the South Fork Dam failed. The attraction featured layered, moving canvases that displayed painted scenes from before, during, and after the disaster. Meanwhile, pyrotechnics, electric lighting effects, water/steam effects, and three-dimensional moving models created an immersive storytelling experience.		''Johnstown Flood'' was a cyclorama found in many parks depicting the Great Flood of 1889 that devastated Johnstown, Pennsylvania, when the South Fork Dam failed. The attraction featured layered, moving canvases that displayed painted scenes from before, during, and after the disaster. Meanwhile, pyrotechnics, electric lighting effects, water/steam effects, and three-dimensional moving models created an immersive storytelling experience.

	Earlier versions were exhibited at the Pan-American Exposition in 1901 and New York's Coney Island from 1902-1906. They were called "the finest scenic electric production." At the Pan-American Exposition, the building that housed it was {{Tooltip \|text = 100 feet\|tooltip = 30.5 meters}} wide by {{Tooltip \|text = 140 feet\|tooltip = 42.7 meters}} long.<ref>[https://www.heartofconeyisland.com/johnstown-flood-show.html "The Johnstown Flood Show (1902-1905) and The Deluge (1906-1908)."] ''The Heart of Coney Island.'' Accessed on July 22, 2022.</ref><ref>[https://panam1901.org/midway/johnstown_flood/johnstown_flood.html "The Johnstown Flood."] Accessed on July 22, 2022.</ref>.		Earlier versions were exhibited at the Pan-American Exposition in 1901 and New York's Coney Island from 1902-1906. They were called "the finest scenic electric production." At the Pan-American Exposition, the building that housed it was {{Tooltip \|text = 100 feet\|tooltip = 30.5 meters}} wide by {{Tooltip \|text = 140 feet\|tooltip = 42.7 meters}} long.<ref>[https://www.heartofconeyisland.com/johnstown-flood-show.html "The Johnstown Flood Show (1902-1905) and The Deluge (1906-1908)."] ''The Heart of Coney Island.'' Accessed on July 22, 2022.</ref><ref>[https://panam1901.org/midway/johnstown_flood/johnstown_flood.html "The Johnstown Flood."] Accessed on July 22, 2022.</ref>

	One version of the Johnstown Flood was exhibited at the 1909 Stockholm Exhibition, featuring an 82-foot-wide stage. It was called "our time's greatest electromechanical spectacle" and "left an indelible, fairytale-like impression." A narrator gave an "over-the-top" description, and a woman connected to the disaster claimed the facts were inaccurate. The attraction was portable and flexible enough to be altered to show other disasters. However, the effects were expensive to produce, and it took 13 employees to run<ref>Johansson, Shelley. [https://old.post-gazette.com/pg/11211/1163861-109-0.stm "First Person/The Swedish Johnstown flood."] ''Post-Gazette.com.'' July 30, 2011. Accessed on July 22, 2022.</ref>.		One version of the Johnstown Flood was exhibited at the 1909 Stockholm Exhibition, featuring an 82-foot-wide stage. It was called "our time's greatest electromechanical spectacle" and "left an indelible, fairytale-like impression." A narrator gave an "over-the-top" description, and a woman connected to the disaster claimed the facts were inaccurate. The attraction was portable and flexible enough to be altered to show other disasters. However, the effects were expensive to produce, and it took 13 employees to run.<ref>Johansson, Shelley. [https://old.post-gazette.com/pg/11211/1163861-109-0.stm "First Person/The Swedish Johnstown flood."] ''Post-Gazette.com.'' July 30, 2011. Accessed on July 22, 2022.</ref>

	==References==		==References==

Parkadmin at 04:25, 4 October 2025

2025-10-04T04:25:48Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:25, 4 October 2025
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	In May 1911, a small fire in [[Ye Olde Mill (1)\|Ye Old Mill]] was discovered by "Duke," a dog with a prominent part in the Johnstown Flood. His barking led to the fire being quickly extinguished. It was feared that the fire could have destroyed a large portion of the park had the fire spread.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/sim_billboard_1911-06-10_23_23/page/20/mode/2up "Fire at Columbus Park."] ''The Billboard.'' Vol. 23. Issue 23. June 10, 1911. Page 20. Accessed through the Internet Archive.</ref>		In May 1911, a small fire in [[Ye Olde Mill (1)\|Ye Old Mill]] was discovered by "Duke," a dog with a prominent part in the Johnstown Flood. His barking led to the fire being quickly extinguished. It was feared that the fire could have destroyed a large portion of the park had the fire spread.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/sim_billboard_1911-06-10_23_23/page/20/mode/2up "Fire at Columbus Park."] ''The Billboard.'' Vol. 23. Issue 23. June 10, 1911. Page 20. Accessed through the Internet Archive.</ref>

	This fear manifested in July 1911, when a [[Midway Fire of 1911\|fire]] that began in the [[Ye Olde Mill (1)\|Old Mill]] ride spread to other attractions, destroying five buildings. Manager J. W. Dusenbury said the buildings were uninsured<ref name=":0">"Suspect Arson in Destructive Fire at Olentangy Park." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' July 17, 1911. Page 1.</ref>.		This fear manifested in July 1911, when a [[Midway Fire of 1911\|fire]] that began in the [[Ye Olde Mill (1)\|Old Mill]] ride spread to other attractions, destroying five buildings. Manager J. W. Dusenbury said the buildings were uninsured.<ref name=":0">"Suspect Arson in Destructive Fire at Olentangy Park." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' July 17, 1911. Page 1.</ref>

	==Description==		==Description==
	''Johnstown Flood'' was a cyclorama found in many parks depicting the Great Flood of 1889 that devastated Johnstown, Pennsylvania, when the South Fork Dam failed. The attraction featured layered, moving canvases that displayed painted scenes from before, during, and after the disaster. Meanwhile, pyrotechnics, electric lighting effects, water/steam effects, and three-dimensional moving models created an immersive storytelling experience.		''Johnstown Flood'' was a cyclorama found in many parks depicting the Great Flood of 1889 that devastated Johnstown, Pennsylvania, when the South Fork Dam failed. The attraction featured layered, moving canvases that displayed painted scenes from before, during, and after the disaster. Meanwhile, pyrotechnics, electric lighting effects, water/steam effects, and three-dimensional moving models created an immersive storytelling experience.

	Earlier versions were exhibited at the Pan-American Exposition in 1901 and New York's Coney Island from 1902-1906. They were called "the finest scenic electric production." At the Pan-American Exposition, the building that housed it was {{Tooltip \|text = 100 feet\|tooltip = 30.5 meters}} wide by {{Tooltip \|text = 140 feet\|tooltip = 42.7 meters}} long<ref>[https://www.heartofconeyisland.com/johnstown-flood-show.html "The Johnstown Flood Show (1902-1905) and The Deluge (1906-1908)."] ''The Heart of Coney Island.'' Accessed on July 22, 2022.</ref><ref>[https://panam1901.org/midway/johnstown_flood/johnstown_flood.html "The Johnstown Flood."] Accessed on July 22, 2022.</ref>.		Earlier versions were exhibited at the Pan-American Exposition in 1901 and New York's Coney Island from 1902-1906. They were called "the finest scenic electric production." At the Pan-American Exposition, the building that housed it was {{Tooltip \|text = 100 feet\|tooltip = 30.5 meters}} wide by {{Tooltip \|text = 140 feet\|tooltip = 42.7 meters}} long.<ref>[https://www.heartofconeyisland.com/johnstown-flood-show.html "The Johnstown Flood Show (1902-1905) and The Deluge (1906-1908)."] ''The Heart of Coney Island.'' Accessed on July 22, 2022.</ref><ref>[https://panam1901.org/midway/johnstown_flood/johnstown_flood.html "The Johnstown Flood."] Accessed on July 22, 2022.</ref>.

	One version of the Johnstown Flood was exhibited at the 1909 Stockholm Exhibition, featuring an 82-foot-wide stage. It was called "our time's greatest electromechanical spectacle" and "left an indelible, fairytale-like impression." A narrator gave an "over-the-top" description, and a woman connected to the disaster claimed the facts were inaccurate. The attraction was portable and flexible enough to be altered to show other disasters. However, the effects were expensive to produce, and it took 13 employees to run<ref>Johansson, Shelley. [https://old.post-gazette.com/pg/11211/1163861-109-0.stm "First Person/The Swedish Johnstown flood."] ''Post-Gazette.com.'' July 30, 2011. Accessed on July 22, 2022.</ref>.		One version of the Johnstown Flood was exhibited at the 1909 Stockholm Exhibition, featuring an 82-foot-wide stage. It was called "our time's greatest electromechanical spectacle" and "left an indelible, fairytale-like impression." A narrator gave an "over-the-top" description, and a woman connected to the disaster claimed the facts were inaccurate. The attraction was portable and flexible enough to be altered to show other disasters. However, the effects were expensive to produce, and it took 13 employees to run<ref>Johansson, Shelley. [https://old.post-gazette.com/pg/11211/1163861-109-0.stm "First Person/The Swedish Johnstown flood."] ''Post-Gazette.com.'' July 30, 2011. Accessed on July 22, 2022.</ref>.

Parkadmin: Updated links

2025-10-04T04:25:00Z

Updated links

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:25, 4 October 2025
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	\| replacedby = [[Ye Olde Mill (2)]]		\| replacedby = [[Ye Olde Mill (2)]]
	}}		}}
	[[The Destruction of Johnstown]], mostly known as '''The Johnstown Flood''', was a cyclorama attraction built and opened on April 25, 1910, at Olentangy Park and burned down the following summer in the [[Midway Fire of 1911]].<ref>"Fire at Olentangy Park." ''The News-Herald (Hillsboro, Ohio).'' July 27, 1911. Page 1. Accessed through Newspapers.com ~~https://www~~.~~newspapers.com/clip/1634174/fire-at-olentangy-park/~~</ref><ref>Photographs. ''The Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' July 17, 1911. Page 1.</ref><ref>"Suspect Arson in Destructive Fire at Olentangy Park." ''The Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' July 17, 1911. Page 1.</ref>		[[The Destruction of Johnstown]], mostly known as '''The Johnstown Flood''', was a cyclorama attraction built and opened on April 25, 1910, at Olentangy Park and burned down the following summer in the [[Midway Fire of 1911]].<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1634174/fire-at-olentangy-park/ "Fire at Olentangy Park."] ''The News-Herald (Hillsboro, Ohio).'' July 27, 1911. Page 1. Accessed through Newspapers.com.</ref><ref>Photographs. ''The Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' July 17, 1911. Page 1.</ref><ref>"Suspect Arson in Destructive Fire at Olentangy Park." ''The Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' July 17, 1911. Page 1.</ref>

	The attraction was a popular cyclorama-style exhibit and theatrical spectacle dramatizing the catastrophic Johnstown Flood of 1889 that occurred in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, when the South Fork Dam collapsed, unleashing a massive wall of water that killed over 2,000 people.<ref>National Park Service. ''Johnstown Flood National Memorial.'' U.S. Department of the Interior. Last modified May 12, 2025~~. https://www.nps.gov/jofl/index.htm~~.</ref> It was part of a broader trend in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to turn recent historical tragedies into dramatic recreations for the public.<ref>Adams, Judith A. 1991. ''The American Amusement Park Industry: A History of Technology and Thrills.'' Page 49.</ref> The attraction used a mix of mechanical effects, painted backdrops, miniatures, sound effects, and live actors, including animal actors.		The attraction was a popular cyclorama-style exhibit and theatrical spectacle dramatizing the catastrophic Johnstown Flood of 1889 that occurred in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, when the South Fork Dam collapsed, unleashing a massive wall of water that killed over 2,000 people.<ref>National Park Service. ''[https://www.nps.gov/jofl/index.htm Johnstown Flood National Memorial.]'' U.S. Department of the Interior. Last modified May 12, 2025.</ref> It was part of a broader trend in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to turn recent historical tragedies into dramatic recreations for the public.<ref>Adams, Judith A. 1991. ''The American Amusement Park Industry: A History of Technology and Thrills.'' Page 49.</ref> The attraction used a mix of mechanical effects, painted backdrops, miniatures, sound effects, and live actors, including animal actors.

	It was located in a wood-frame building along the [[Midway]] with burlap lining<ref name=":0">"Suspect Arson in Destructive Fire at Olentangy Park." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' July 17, 1911. Page 1.</ref> north of the [[Dancing Pavilion]] and Ye Olde Mill. It was over 100 feet long and extended from the [[Scenic Coaster]], under the tracks of the [[Loop-the-Loop]], to the [[Circle Swing]]. The cars of the Loop-the-Loop traveled over the building.<ref name="april10">"Olentangy Park." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch.'' April 10, 1910. Page 5.</ref>		It was located in a wood-frame building along the Midway with burlap lining<ref name=":0">"Suspect Arson in Destructive Fire at Olentangy Park." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' July 17, 1911. Page 1.</ref> north of the [[Dancing Pavilion]] and Ye Olde Mill. It was over 100 feet long and extended from the [[Scenic Coaster]], under the tracks of the [[Loop-the-Loop]], to the [[Circle Swing]]. The cars of the Loop-the-Loop traveled over the building.<ref name="april10">"Olentangy Park." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch.'' April 10, 1910. Page 5.</ref>

	In May 1911, a small fire in [[Ye Olde Mill (1)\|Ye Old Mill]] was discovered by "Duke," a dog with a prominent part in the Johnstown Flood. His barking led to the fire being quickly extinguished. It was feared that the fire could have destroyed a large portion of the park had the fire spread.<ref>"Fire at Columbus Park." ''The Billboard.'' Vol. 23. Issue 23. June 10, 1911. Page 20. Accessed through the Internet Archive. ~~https://archive.org/details/sim_billboard_1911-06-10_23_23/page/20/mode/2up~~</ref>		In May 1911, a small fire in [[Ye Olde Mill (1)\|Ye Old Mill]] was discovered by "Duke," a dog with a prominent part in the Johnstown Flood. His barking led to the fire being quickly extinguished. It was feared that the fire could have destroyed a large portion of the park had the fire spread.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/sim_billboard_1911-06-10_23_23/page/20/mode/2up "Fire at Columbus Park."] ''The Billboard.'' Vol. 23. Issue 23. June 10, 1911. Page 20. Accessed through the Internet Archive.</ref>

	This fear manifested in July 1911, when a [[Midway Fire of 1911\|fire]] that began in the [[Ye Olde Mill (1)\|Old Mill]] ride spread to other attractions, destroying five buildings. Manager J. W. Dusenbury said the buildings were uninsured<ref name=":0">"Suspect Arson in Destructive Fire at Olentangy Park." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' July 17, 1911. Page 1.</ref>.		This fear manifested in July 1911, when a [[Midway Fire of 1911\|fire]] that began in the [[Ye Olde Mill (1)\|Old Mill]] ride spread to other attractions, destroying five buildings. Manager J. W. Dusenbury said the buildings were uninsured<ref name=":0">"Suspect Arson in Destructive Fire at Olentangy Park." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' July 17, 1911. Page 1.</ref>.

	==Description==		==Description==
	''Johnstown Flood'' was a cyclorama found in many parks depicting the Great Flood of 1889 that devastated Johnstown, Pennsylvania, when the South Fork Dam failed. The attraction ~~had~~ layered, moving canvases ~~showing~~ painted scenes from before, during, and after the disaster ~~while~~ pyrotechnics, electric lighting effects, water/steam effects, and ~~moving~~ three-dimensional models ~~to create~~ an immersive storytelling experience.		''Johnstown Flood'' was a cyclorama found in many parks depicting the Great Flood of 1889 that devastated Johnstown, Pennsylvania, when the South Fork Dam failed. The attraction featured layered, moving canvases that displayed painted scenes from before, during, and after the disaster. Meanwhile, pyrotechnics, electric lighting effects, water/steam effects, and three-dimensional moving models created an immersive storytelling experience.

	Earlier versions were exhibited at the Pan-American Exposition in 1901 and New York's Coney Island from 1902-1906. They were called "the finest scenic electric production." At the Pan-American Exposition, the building that housed it was {{Tooltip \|text = 100 feet\|tooltip = 30.5 meters}} wide by {{Tooltip \|text = 140 feet\|tooltip = 42.7 meters}} long<ref>"The Johnstown Flood Show (1902-1905) and The Deluge (1906-1908)." ''The Heart of Coney Island.'' Accessed on July 22, 2022. ~~https://www.heartofconeyisland.com/johnstown-flood-show.html~~</ref><ref>~~"The Johnstown Flood." Accessed on July 22, 2022.~~ https://panam1901.org/midway/johnstown_flood/johnstown_flood.html</ref>.		Earlier versions were exhibited at the Pan-American Exposition in 1901 and New York's Coney Island from 1902-1906. They were called "the finest scenic electric production." At the Pan-American Exposition, the building that housed it was {{Tooltip \|text = 100 feet\|tooltip = 30.5 meters}} wide by {{Tooltip \|text = 140 feet\|tooltip = 42.7 meters}} long<ref>[https://www.heartofconeyisland.com/johnstown-flood-show.html "The Johnstown Flood Show (1902-1905) and The Deluge (1906-1908)."] ''The Heart of Coney Island.'' Accessed on July 22, 2022.</ref><ref>[https://panam1901.org/midway/johnstown_flood/johnstown_flood.html "The Johnstown Flood."] Accessed on July 22, 2022.</ref>.

	One version of the Johnstown Flood was exhibited at the 1909 Stockholm Exhibition ~~and had~~ an 82-foot-wide stage. It was called "our time's greatest electromechanical spectacle" and "left an indelible, fairytale-like impression." A narrator gave an "over-the-top" description, and a woman connected to the disaster claimed the facts were inaccurate. The attraction was portable and flexible enough to be altered to show other disasters. However, the effects were expensive to produce, and it took 13 employees to run<ref>Johansson, Shelley. "First Person/The Swedish Johnstown flood." ''Post-Gazette.com.'' July 30, 2011. Accessed on July 22, 2022. ~~https://old.post-gazette.com/pg/11211/1163861-109-0.stm~~</ref>.		One version of the Johnstown Flood was exhibited at the 1909 Stockholm Exhibition, featuring an 82-foot-wide stage. It was called "our time's greatest electromechanical spectacle" and "left an indelible, fairytale-like impression." A narrator gave an "over-the-top" description, and a woman connected to the disaster claimed the facts were inaccurate. The attraction was portable and flexible enough to be altered to show other disasters. However, the effects were expensive to produce, and it took 13 employees to run<ref>Johansson, Shelley. [https://old.post-gazette.com/pg/11211/1163861-109-0.stm "First Person/The Swedish Johnstown flood."] ''Post-Gazette.com.'' July 30, 2011. Accessed on July 22, 2022.</ref>.

	==References==		==References==

Parkadmin at 19:26, 6 August 2025

2025-08-06T19:26:51Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:26, 6 August 2025
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	\| replacedby = [[Ye Olde Mill (2)]]		\| replacedby = [[Ye Olde Mill (2)]]
	}}		}}
	[[The Destruction of Johnstown]], mostly known as '''The Johnstown Flood''', was a cyclorama attraction built and opened on April 25, 1910, at Olentangy Park and burned down the following summer in the [[Midway Fire of 1911]]<ref>"Fire at Olentangy Park." ''The News-Herald (Hillsboro, Ohio).'' July 27, 1911. Page 1. Accessed through Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1634174/fire-at-olentangy-park/</ref><ref>Photographs, ''The Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' July 17, 1911. Page 1.</ref><ref>"Suspect Arson in Destructive Fire at Olentangy Park." ''The Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' July 17, 1911. Page 1.</ref>		[[The Destruction of Johnstown]], mostly known as '''The Johnstown Flood''', was a cyclorama attraction built and opened on April 25, 1910, at Olentangy Park and burned down the following summer in the [[Midway Fire of 1911]].<ref>"Fire at Olentangy Park." ''The News-Herald (Hillsboro, Ohio).'' July 27, 1911. Page 1. Accessed through Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1634174/fire-at-olentangy-park/</ref><ref>Photographs. ''The Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' July 17, 1911. Page 1.</ref><ref>"Suspect Arson in Destructive Fire at Olentangy Park." ''The Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' July 17, 1911. Page 1.</ref>

	The attraction was a popular cyclorama-style exhibit and theatrical spectacle dramatizing the catastrophic Johnstown Flood of 1889 that occurred in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, when the South Fork Dam collapsed, unleashing a massive wall of water that killed over 2,000 people.<ref>National Park Service. ''Johnstown Flood National Memorial.'' U.S. Department of the Interior. Last modified May 12, 2025. https://www.nps.gov/jofl/index.htm.</ref> It was part of a broader trend in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to turn recent historical tragedies into dramatic recreations for the public.<ref>Adams, Judith A. 1991. ''The American Amusement Park Industry: A History of Technology and Thrills.'' Page 49.</ref> The attraction used a mix of mechanical effects, painted backdrops, miniatures, sound effects, and live actors, including animal actors.		The attraction was a popular cyclorama-style exhibit and theatrical spectacle dramatizing the catastrophic Johnstown Flood of 1889 that occurred in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, when the South Fork Dam collapsed, unleashing a massive wall of water that killed over 2,000 people.<ref>National Park Service. ''Johnstown Flood National Memorial.'' U.S. Department of the Interior. Last modified May 12, 2025. https://www.nps.gov/jofl/index.htm.</ref> It was part of a broader trend in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to turn recent historical tragedies into dramatic recreations for the public.<ref>Adams, Judith A. 1991. ''The American Amusement Park Industry: A History of Technology and Thrills.'' Page 49.</ref> The attraction used a mix of mechanical effects, painted backdrops, miniatures, sound effects, and live actors, including animal actors.

Parkadmin at 19:31, 3 July 2025

2025-07-03T19:31:49Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:31, 3 July 2025
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	\| opened = April 25, 1910		\| opened = April 25, 1910
	\| built = 1910		\| built = 1910
	\| closed = 1911 (Fire)		\| closed = July 16, 1911 (Fire)
	\| fires = July 1911		\| fires = July 1911
	\| type = Exhibition		\| type = Exhibition

Parkadmin at 19:25, 3 July 2025

2025-07-03T19:25:48Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:25, 3 July 2025
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	''Johnstown Flood'' was a cyclorama found in many parks depicting the Great Flood of 1889 that devastated Johnstown, Pennsylvania, when the South Fork Dam failed. The attraction had layered, moving canvases showing painted scenes from before, during, and after the disaster while pyrotechnics, electric lighting effects, water/steam effects, and moving three-dimensional models to create an immersive storytelling experience.		''Johnstown Flood'' was a cyclorama found in many parks depicting the Great Flood of 1889 that devastated Johnstown, Pennsylvania, when the South Fork Dam failed. The attraction had layered, moving canvases showing painted scenes from before, during, and after the disaster while pyrotechnics, electric lighting effects, water/steam effects, and moving three-dimensional models to create an immersive storytelling experience.

	Earlier versions were exhibited at the Pan-American Exposition in 1901 and New York's Coney Island from 1902-1906. They were called "the finest scenic electric production." At the Pan-American Exposition, the building that housed it was 100 feet (30.5 meters) wide by {{Tooltip \|text = 140 feet\|tooltip = 42.7 meters}} long<ref>"The Johnstown Flood Show (1902-1905) and The Deluge (1906-1908)." ''The Heart of Coney Island.'' Accessed on July 22, 2022. https://www.heartofconeyisland.com/johnstown-flood-show.html</ref><ref>"The Johnstown Flood." Accessed on July 22, 2022. https://panam1901.org/midway/johnstown_flood/johnstown_flood.html</ref>.		Earlier versions were exhibited at the Pan-American Exposition in 1901 and New York's Coney Island from 1902-1906. They were called "the finest scenic electric production." At the Pan-American Exposition, the building that housed it was {{Tooltip \|text = 100 feet\|tooltip = 30.5 meters}} wide by {{Tooltip \|text = 140 feet\|tooltip = 42.7 meters}} long<ref>"The Johnstown Flood Show (1902-1905) and The Deluge (1906-1908)." ''The Heart of Coney Island.'' Accessed on July 22, 2022. https://www.heartofconeyisland.com/johnstown-flood-show.html</ref><ref>"The Johnstown Flood." Accessed on July 22, 2022. https://panam1901.org/midway/johnstown_flood/johnstown_flood.html</ref>.

	One version of the Johnstown Flood was exhibited at the 1909 Stockholm Exhibition and had an 82-foot-wide stage. It was called "our time's greatest electromechanical spectacle" and "left an indelible, fairytale-like impression." A narrator gave an "over-the-top" description, and a woman connected to the disaster claimed the facts were inaccurate. The attraction was portable and flexible enough to be altered to show other disasters. However, the effects were expensive to produce, and it took 13 employees to run<ref>Johansson, Shelley. "First Person/The Swedish Johnstown flood." ''Post-Gazette.com.'' July 30, 2011. Accessed on July 22, 2022. https://old.post-gazette.com/pg/11211/1163861-109-0.stm</ref>.		One version of the Johnstown Flood was exhibited at the 1909 Stockholm Exhibition and had an 82-foot-wide stage. It was called "our time's greatest electromechanical spectacle" and "left an indelible, fairytale-like impression." A narrator gave an "over-the-top" description, and a woman connected to the disaster claimed the facts were inaccurate. The attraction was portable and flexible enough to be altered to show other disasters. However, the effects were expensive to produce, and it took 13 employees to run<ref>Johansson, Shelley. "First Person/The Swedish Johnstown flood." ''Post-Gazette.com.'' July 30, 2011. Accessed on July 22, 2022. https://old.post-gazette.com/pg/11211/1163861-109-0.stm</ref>.

Parkadmin at 19:24, 3 July 2025

2025-07-03T19:24:26Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:24, 3 July 2025
Line 12:		Line 12:
	\| replacedby = [[Ye Olde Mill (2)]]		\| replacedby = [[Ye Olde Mill (2)]]
	}}		}}
	[[The Destruction of Johnstown]], mostly known as '''The Johnstown Flood''', was a cyclorama attraction built and opened on April 25, 1910, at Olentangy Park and burned down the following summer in the [[Midway Fire of 1911]]<ref>"Fire at Olentangy Park." ''The News-Herald (Hillsboro, Ohio),'' July 27, 1911. Page 1. Accessed through Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1634174/fire-at-olentangy-park/</ref><ref>Photographs, ''The Columbus Evening Dispatch,'' July 17, 1911. Page 1.</ref><ref>"Suspect Arson in Destructive Fire at Olentangy Park." ''The Columbus Evening Dispatch,'' July 17, 1911. Page 1.</ref>		[[The Destruction of Johnstown]], mostly known as '''The Johnstown Flood''', was a cyclorama attraction built and opened on April 25, 1910, at Olentangy Park and burned down the following summer in the [[Midway Fire of 1911]]<ref>"Fire at Olentangy Park." ''The News-Herald (Hillsboro, Ohio).'' July 27, 1911. Page 1. Accessed through Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1634174/fire-at-olentangy-park/</ref><ref>Photographs, ''The Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' July 17, 1911. Page 1.</ref><ref>"Suspect Arson in Destructive Fire at Olentangy Park." ''The Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' July 17, 1911. Page 1.</ref>

	The attraction was a popular cyclorama-style exhibit and theatrical spectacle dramatizing the catastrophic Johnstown Flood of 1889 that occurred in Johnstown, ~~Pa.~~, when the South Fork Dam collapsed, unleashing a massive wall of water that killed over 2,000 people.<ref>National Park Service. ''Johnstown Flood National Memorial.'' U.S. Department of the Interior. Last modified May 12, 2025. https://www.nps.gov/jofl/index.htm.</ref> It was part of a broader trend in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to turn recent historical tragedies into dramatic recreations for the public.<ref>Adams, Judith A. 1991. ''The American Amusement Park Industry: A History of Technology and Thrills.'' Page 49.</ref> The attraction used a mix of mechanical effects, painted backdrops, miniatures, sound effects, and live actors, including animal actors.		The attraction was a popular cyclorama-style exhibit and theatrical spectacle dramatizing the catastrophic Johnstown Flood of 1889 that occurred in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, when the South Fork Dam collapsed, unleashing a massive wall of water that killed over 2,000 people.<ref>National Park Service. ''Johnstown Flood National Memorial.'' U.S. Department of the Interior. Last modified May 12, 2025. https://www.nps.gov/jofl/index.htm.</ref> It was part of a broader trend in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to turn recent historical tragedies into dramatic recreations for the public.<ref>Adams, Judith A. 1991. ''The American Amusement Park Industry: A History of Technology and Thrills.'' Page 49.</ref> The attraction used a mix of mechanical effects, painted backdrops, miniatures, sound effects, and live actors, including animal actors.

	It was located in a wood-frame building along the [[Midway]] with burlap lining<ref name=":0">"Suspect Arson in Destructive Fire at Olentangy Park." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch,'' July 17, 1911. Page 1.</ref> north of the [[Dancing Pavilion]] and Ye Olde Mill. It was over 100 feet long and extended from the [[Scenic Coaster]], under the tracks of the [[Loop-the-Loop]], to the [[Circle Swing]]. The cars of the Loop-the-Loop traveled over the building.<ref name="april10">"Olentangy Park." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch,'' April 10, 1910. Page 5.</ref>		It was located in a wood-frame building along the [[Midway]] with burlap lining<ref name=":0">"Suspect Arson in Destructive Fire at Olentangy Park." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' July 17, 1911. Page 1.</ref> north of the [[Dancing Pavilion]] and Ye Olde Mill. It was over 100 feet long and extended from the [[Scenic Coaster]], under the tracks of the [[Loop-the-Loop]], to the [[Circle Swing]]. The cars of the Loop-the-Loop traveled over the building.<ref name="april10">"Olentangy Park." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch.'' April 10, 1910. Page 5.</ref>

	In May 1911, a small fire in [[Ye Olde Mill (1)\|Ye Old Mill]] was discovered by "Duke," a dog with a prominent part in the Johnstown Flood. His barking led to the fire being quickly extinguished. It was feared that the fire could have destroyed a large portion of the park had the fire spread.<ref>"Fire at Columbus Park." ''The Billboard,'' ~~June 10, 1911.~~ Vol. 23. Issue 23. Page 20. Accessed through the Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/sim_billboard_1911-06-10_23_23/page/20/mode/2up</ref>		In May 1911, a small fire in [[Ye Olde Mill (1)\|Ye Old Mill]] was discovered by "Duke," a dog with a prominent part in the Johnstown Flood. His barking led to the fire being quickly extinguished. It was feared that the fire could have destroyed a large portion of the park had the fire spread.<ref>"Fire at Columbus Park." ''The Billboard.'' Vol. 23. Issue 23. June 10, 1911. Page 20. Accessed through the Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/sim_billboard_1911-06-10_23_23/page/20/mode/2up</ref>

	This fear manifested in July 1911, when a [[Midway Fire of 1911\|fire]] that began in the [[Ye Olde Mill (1)\|Old Mill]] ride spread to other attractions, destroying five buildings. Manager J. W. Dusenbury said the buildings were uninsured<ref name=":0">"Suspect Arson in Destructive Fire at Olentangy Park." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch,'' July 17, 1911. Page 1.</ref>.		This fear manifested in July 1911, when a [[Midway Fire of 1911\|fire]] that began in the [[Ye Olde Mill (1)\|Old Mill]] ride spread to other attractions, destroying five buildings. Manager J. W. Dusenbury said the buildings were uninsured<ref name=":0">"Suspect Arson in Destructive Fire at Olentangy Park." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' July 17, 1911. Page 1.</ref>.

	==Description==		==Description==
	''Johnstown Flood'' was a cyclorama found in many parks depicting the Great Flood of 1889 that devastated Johnstown, Pennsylvania, when the South Fork Dam failed. The attraction had layered, moving canvases showing painted scenes from before, during, and after the disaster while pyrotechnics, electric lighting effects, water/steam effects, and moving three-dimensional models to create an immersive storytelling experience.		''Johnstown Flood'' was a cyclorama found in many parks depicting the Great Flood of 1889 that devastated Johnstown, Pennsylvania, when the South Fork Dam failed. The attraction had layered, moving canvases showing painted scenes from before, during, and after the disaster while pyrotechnics, electric lighting effects, water/steam effects, and moving three-dimensional models to create an immersive storytelling experience.

	Earlier versions were exhibited at the Pan-American Exposition in 1901 and New York's Coney Island from 1902-1906. They were called "the finest scenic electric production." At the Pan-American Exposition, the building that housed it was 100 feet (30.5 meters) wide by 140 feet (42.7 meters) long<ref>"The Johnstown Flood Show (1902-1905) and The Deluge (1906-1908)." ''The Heart of Coney Island.'' Accessed on July 22, 2022. https://www.heartofconeyisland.com/johnstown-flood-show.html</ref><ref>"The Johnstown Flood." Accessed on July 22, 2022. https://panam1901.org/midway/johnstown_flood/johnstown_flood.html</ref>.		Earlier versions were exhibited at the Pan-American Exposition in 1901 and New York's Coney Island from 1902-1906. They were called "the finest scenic electric production." At the Pan-American Exposition, the building that housed it was 100 feet (30.5 meters) wide by {{Tooltip \|text = 140 feet\|tooltip = 42.7 meters}} long<ref>"The Johnstown Flood Show (1902-1905) and The Deluge (1906-1908)." ''The Heart of Coney Island.'' Accessed on July 22, 2022. https://www.heartofconeyisland.com/johnstown-flood-show.html</ref><ref>"The Johnstown Flood." Accessed on July 22, 2022. https://panam1901.org/midway/johnstown_flood/johnstown_flood.html</ref>.

	One version of the Johnstown Flood was exhibited at the 1909 Stockholm Exhibition and had an 82-foot-wide stage. It was called "our time's greatest electromechanical spectacle" and "left an indelible, fairytale-like impression." A narrator gave an "over-the-top" description, and a woman connected to the disaster claimed the facts were inaccurate. The attraction was portable and flexible enough to be altered to show other disasters. However, the effects were expensive to produce, and it took 13 employees to run<ref>Johansson, Shelley~~. 2011~~. "First Person/The Swedish Johnstown flood." ''Post-Gazette.com,'' July 30, 2011. Accessed on July 22, 2022. https://old.post-gazette.com/pg/11211/1163861-109-0.stm</ref>.		One version of the Johnstown Flood was exhibited at the 1909 Stockholm Exhibition and had an 82-foot-wide stage. It was called "our time's greatest electromechanical spectacle" and "left an indelible, fairytale-like impression." A narrator gave an "over-the-top" description, and a woman connected to the disaster claimed the facts were inaccurate. The attraction was portable and flexible enough to be altered to show other disasters. However, the effects were expensive to produce, and it took 13 employees to run<ref>Johansson, Shelley. "First Person/The Swedish Johnstown flood." ''Post-Gazette.com.'' July 30, 2011. Accessed on July 22, 2022. https://old.post-gazette.com/pg/11211/1163861-109-0.stm</ref>.

	==References==		==References==

Parkadmin at 06:00, 14 June 2025

2025-06-14T06:00:36Z

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	Earlier versions were exhibited at the Pan-American Exposition in 1901 and New York's Coney Island from 1902-1906. They were called "the finest scenic electric production." At the Pan-American Exposition, the building that housed it was 100 feet (30.5 meters) wide by 140 feet (42.7 meters) long<ref>"The Johnstown Flood Show (1902-1905) and The Deluge (1906-1908)." ''The Heart of Coney Island.'' Accessed on July 22, 2022. https://www.heartofconeyisland.com/johnstown-flood-show.html</ref><ref>"The Johnstown Flood." Accessed on July 22, 2022. https://panam1901.org/midway/johnstown_flood/johnstown_flood.html</ref>.		Earlier versions were exhibited at the Pan-American Exposition in 1901 and New York's Coney Island from 1902-1906. They were called "the finest scenic electric production." At the Pan-American Exposition, the building that housed it was 100 feet (30.5 meters) wide by 140 feet (42.7 meters) long<ref>"The Johnstown Flood Show (1902-1905) and The Deluge (1906-1908)." ''The Heart of Coney Island.'' Accessed on July 22, 2022. https://www.heartofconeyisland.com/johnstown-flood-show.html</ref><ref>"The Johnstown Flood." Accessed on July 22, 2022. https://panam1901.org/midway/johnstown_flood/johnstown_flood.html</ref>.

	One version of the Johnstown Flood was exhibited at the 1909 Stockholm Exhibition and had an 82-foot-wide stage. It was called "our time's greatest electromechanical spectacle" and "left an indelible, fairytale-like impression." A narrator gave an "over-the-top" description, and a woman connected to the disaster claimed the facts were inaccurate. The attraction was portable and flexible enough to be altered to show other disasters. However, the effects were expensive to produce, and it took ~~thirteen~~ employees to run<ref>Johansson, Shelley. 2011. "First Person/The Swedish Johnstown flood." ''Post-Gazette.com,'' July 30, 2011. Accessed on July 22, 2022. https://old.post-gazette.com/pg/11211/1163861-109-0.stm</ref>.		One version of the Johnstown Flood was exhibited at the 1909 Stockholm Exhibition and had an 82-foot-wide stage. It was called "our time's greatest electromechanical spectacle" and "left an indelible, fairytale-like impression." A narrator gave an "over-the-top" description, and a woman connected to the disaster claimed the facts were inaccurate. The attraction was portable and flexible enough to be altered to show other disasters. However, the effects were expensive to produce, and it took 13 employees to run<ref>Johansson, Shelley. 2011. "First Person/The Swedish Johnstown flood." ''Post-Gazette.com,'' July 30, 2011. Accessed on July 22, 2022. https://old.post-gazette.com/pg/11211/1163861-109-0.stm</ref>.

	==References==		==References==