Member edhsinc

Eastland Disaster, Chicago, maritime

The Eastland Disaster Historical Society (EDHS) exists so that people in the Chicago area, as well as across the country, obtain information and education regarding the Eastland Disaster while also learning about the families whose lives were affected by Chicago’s greatest tragedy.
EDHS is a new (organized late 1998), small ($15,000 annual budget), all-volunteer organization. While we may be new, small, and all-volunteer, we nonetheless are very results-oriented. The most significant results we have achieved include: (1) legitimizing the importance of the history of the Eastland Disaster; and (2) altering the collective historical consciousness of society regarding the Eastland Disaster (by sharing, directly and indirectly, the story of the Eastland Disaster with millions). Once destined for complete obscurity, “the Eastland Disaster is becoming well known as of late.” This change, as identified by WGN Radio, is a direct result of our efforts over the past nine years. We share this recognition for this accomplishment with several other Chicago institutions with whom we have collaborated.