Historical Events tagged with "east river"

Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Throgs Neck Bridge Opens to Traffic

January 11th, 1961 64 years ago

The Throgs Neck Bridge was opened to road traffic, linking the Bronx and Queens in New York City. This bridge spans the East River and provides a vital connection for commuters between these two boroughs. Designed as part of an effort to improve traffic flow in the region, the bridge was celebrated for enhancing accessibility to the neighboring areas. Its inauguration marked a significant milestone in the development of the New York City transportation infrastructure.

Continue Reading
Accidents & Tragedies

American Airlines Flight 320 Crash into East River

February 3rd, 1959 66 years ago

American Airlines Flight 320 crashed into the East River while approaching LaGuardia Airport, resulting in the deaths of 65 individuals. The aircraft, a Douglas DC-6, encountered severe weather conditions. Emergency response teams quickly mobilized to search for survivors and recover victims, while the tragedy drew attention to aviation safety standards.

Continue Reading
Accidents & Tragedies

Catastrophic Fire on the SS General Slocum

June 15th, 1904 120 years ago

A fire erupted aboard the steamboat SS General Slocum during a daytime excursion, leading to the tragic loss of approximately 1,000 lives. The vessel was carrying members of a German-American church group to a picnic on Long Island. The blaze spread rapidly, fueled by the boat's wooden structure and insufficient safety measures. Many passengers were unable to escape due to blocked exits and inadequate lifeboats, resulting in one of the worst maritime disasters in U.S. history.

Continue Reading