Worst Shipwreck in U.S. History is One You May Not Even Know About – NPR Story

Illustration: Library of Congress

This week marks the 150th anniversary of the explosion and sinking of the steamboat Sultana as it travelled up the Mississippi River carrying Union soldiers just days after the end of the Civil War. Unbeknownst to many, the shipwreck was and still is the worst maritime disaster in U.S. history, killing an estimated 1,800. But what makes this story truly interesting is what happened leading up to the event, the rescue that followed, and why the event is considered a ‘forgotten tragedy’.

Here’s the NPR story on the tragedy and what the city of Marion, Arkansas is doing to ensure that the tragedy is remembered:

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