Great Molasses Flood site (Purity Distilling Co. tank)

On January 15, 1919, a 2.3 million-gallon molasses tank owned by the Purity Distilling Company burst at a North End site on Commercial Street, sending a wave of molasses that killed 21 people and injured about 150. The explosion demolished nearby buildings and led to a lengthy court case that influenced industrial safety and construction standards. The tank's location is documented at 529 Commercial St in Boston's North End.