Tri-State Tornado

Widely considered the most devastating and powerful tornado in American history, the Great Tri-State Tornado ripped through Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana on March 18, 1925. In its 219-mile-long wake it left four completely destroyed towns, six severely damaged ones, 15,000 destroyed homes, and 2,000 injured. Most significantly, 695 people were killed, a record for a single tornado. The Great Tri-State Tornado left a legacy that is evidenced by ghost towns, lost ancestors, and stories passed from generation to generation. As …

…an afternoon thunderstorm near Ellington in southeast Missouri, crossed the Mississippi River about 75 miles southeast of St. Louis, then followed a northeast course as it plowed through southern Illinois and southwestern Indiana before finally dissipating. The tornado exacted its greatest toll on southern Illinois. Speeds of the tornado reached 60 miles per hour in the region, and although it crossed predominantly rural land its path followed a string of railroads, placing several towns in its way.