Great Molasses Flood of 1919

On January 15, 1919 a 2.3 million-gallon molasses storage tank owned by the Purity Distilling Company burst in Boston's North End, sending a wave of molasses through the neighborhood. The disaster killed 21 people, injured about 150, and destroyed buildings and vehicles along Commercial Street. Subsequent investigations and lawsuits established liability and led to a lengthy cleanup and civil judgment against the company.