Great Molasses Flood of 1919

On January 15, 1919, a 50-foot molasses tank owned by the Purity Distilling subsidiary of the United States Industrial Alcohol Company burst at 529 Commercial Street, releasing an estimated 2.3 million gallons of molasses into Boston's North End. The resulting wave killed 21 people, injured scores, and demolished buildings and vehicles along Commercial Street and adjacent rail lines. The disaster led to criminal and civil litigation and contributed to changes in tank construction oversight and engineering standards.