Remembering the General Slocum Tragedy

More than 1,000 New Yorkers perished on June 15, 1904 when their steamboat burst into flames on the East River. The greatest loss of life in New York before 9-11, it has been said that the Slocum Disaster was the end of the German community in the East Village. Two years later the oft-overlooked Slocum Memorial Fountain was installed in the park. Join us as we recognize the 110th year since this monument was installed. After a brief presentation there will be a 1 hour walking tour of what was then referred to as Kleindeutschland or “Little Germany,” as we visit sites of importance to the historic German-American community around the park.

The walk will be guided by Edward T. O’Donnell, historian, author, tour guide, and Associate Professor of History at Holy Cross College in Worcester, MA. He is the author of Ship Ablaze: The Tragedy of the Steamboat General Slocum and several other books. This event is co-sponsored by the Lower East Side Preservation Initiative, East Village Community Coalition, Friends of the Upper East Side Historic Districts, South Bronx Unite and Manhattan Borough Historian Michael Miscione.