The Great Louisville Tornado of 1890

Local author Keven McQueen’s latest book, The Great Louisville Tornado of 1890, chronicles one of the worst American natural disasters of the nineteenth century, with tales of harrowing rescues and rebuilding. The tornado that touched down in Louisville carved a path of unprecedented destruction from Main Street to the end of town. Nearly eight hundred buildings in the city were destroyed, and over one hundred people perished. In all, the storm produced over twenty-five tornados that day, and it remains the twenty-fifth deadliest storm in U.S. history. McQueen’s thoroughly researched book presents fascinating findings that sometimes challenge the official record of the disaster. McQueen has been an instructor of composition and literature in the Department of English and Theatre at Eastern Kentucky University since 1989. His books include Kentucky Book of the Dead, Offbeat Kentuckians, More Offbeat Kentuckians, and Cassius M. Clay, Freedom's Champion. This lecture will begin at 12 p.m. at The Filson Historical Society. There is no cost for this event, though reservations are suggested. You may reserve your seat by visiting www.filsonhistorical.org or by calling The Filson at (502) 635-5083.