Natural
The destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum is attributed to the eruption of this volcano.
What is Mount Vesuvius?
Legend says a cow may have started this fire that destroyed much of a Midwestern city in 1871.
What is the Great Chicago Fire?
Marketed as practically unsinkable, this ocean liner struck an iceberg on its maiden voyage in 1912
What is the Titanic?
"Houston, we've had a problem" became one of the most famous lines in history after this crippled 1970 space mission fought to return safely to Earth.
What is Apollo 13?
After safely landing US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River in 2009, this pilot became known simply as "Sully."
Who is Chesley Sullenberger?
During the 1930s, farmers across the Great Plains struggled through this era of dust storms and drought.
What is the Dust Bowl?
Locked doors and unsafe conditions turned this 1911 New York factory fire into a catalyst for workplace reform.
What is the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire?
Newsreel footage of this 1937 disaster showed a German airship bursting into flames while attempting to land in New Jersey.
What is the Hindenburg Disaster?
This vessel's sinking in 1945 left hundreds of sailors battling sharks, dehydration, and exposure.
What is the USS Indianapolis?
Nicknamed "The Unsinkable Molly Brown," this Titanic survivor became famous for helping others into lifeboats.
Who is Margaret Brown?
In 1980, television viewers watched as the entire north face of this Washington mountain collapsed in a massive eruption.
What is Mount St. Helens?
This 1942 nightclub disaster in Boston killed nearly 500 people and led to major safety reforms.
What is the Cocoanut Grove Fire?
Millions watched live television coverage as this space shuttle broke apart shortly after liftoff in 1986.
What is the Challenger Disaster?
In 1987, America watched as rescuers worked for 58 hours to save this Texas toddler from a well.
Who is Baby Jessica?
During World War II, this Army medic saved dozens of soldiers without carrying a weapon.
Who is Desmond Doss?
This 1906 disaster left much of a major California city in ruins and flames.
What is the San Francisco Earthquake?
This 1910 wildfire burned more than three million acres across Idaho and Montana.
What is the Big Burn?
A molasses storage tank burst in 1919, sending a sticky wave through the streets of Boston.
What is the Great Molasses Flood.
After a wagon train became trapped by snow in the Sierra Nevada during the winter of 1846–47, these pioneers faced one of America's most infamous survival ordeals.
Who are the Donner Party?
This aviation pioneer disappeared over the Pacific in 1937 after inspiring generations of women pilots.
Who is Amelia Earhart?
This 1964 event remains the strongest earthquake ever recorded in North America.
What is the Good Friday Earthquake?
The phrase "fireproof" came under intense scrutiny after this Chicago school tragedy claimed 92 children.
What is the Our Lady of the Angels School Fire?
his 1966 space mission ended in tragedy when a cabin fire killed three astronauts during a launch rehearsal.
What is Apollo 1?
In 1952, all but one crew member survived when this tanker broke apart off Cape Cod.
What is the SS Pendleton?
During the sinking of the Titanic, this wireless operator remained at his post sending distress calls until the end.
Who is Jack Phillips?
The year 1816 became known as "The Year Without a Summer" after the eruption of this volcano.
What is Mount Tambora?
Before becoming synonymous with casino luxury, this Las Vegas property became known for a fire that killed 85 people.
What is the MGM Grand Hotel?
Engineers studying this 1940 bridge failure revolutionized modern suspension-bridge design.
What is Galloping Gertie?
This survivor of the Titanic later survived both the Britannic and the Olympic incidents.
Who is Violet Jessop?
During World War II, this businessman saved more than 1,000 Jews by employing them in his factories.
Who is Oskar Schindler?