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100 Years Later: Lessons From Boston's Molasses Flood Of 191913:31
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January 15, 2019

Jamie Bologna
Maria Garcia

The ruins of a tank containing 2 1/2 million gallons of molasses lie in a heap after an eruption that hurled trucks against buildings and crumpled houses in the North End of Boston, on Jan. 15, 1919. The disaster took 21 lives and injured 40. (AP)

This article is more than 2 years old.

On a cold January day 100 years ago, a massive tank of molasses exploded in Boston's North End, unleashing a tsunami of molasses onto the streets. The wave killed 21 people and injured hundreds more. And the aftermath of the disaster eventually led to important changes to how we construct and inspect buildings in America.

Guest

Robert Allison, professor of history at Suffolk University. He tweets @historyofboston.

This segment aired on January 15, 2019.

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On Point

Radio Boston

100 Years Later: Lessons From Boston's Molasses Flood Of 191913:31
Copy the code below to embed the WBUR audio player on your site
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