A century later, Lorain remembers the 1924 tornado
LIST OF EVENTS AND PROGRAMS
Lorain Historical Society Tornado Presentation - SOLD OUT
May 11, 2024 | 11:00am @ the Lorain Historical Society
Hear from our Curator, Kaitlyn Donaldson, as she guides you through the Downtown Lorain Tornado Walking Tour without having to walk it! Get an exclusive look at our limited edition Tornado merchandise & more! Tickets are $5 per person and can be purchased on location. Call 440-245-2563 Ext. 7001 today to register!
Lorain Tornado Commemoration Postcard Exhibit
June 1, 2024 - July 26, 2024 | 10:00am - 4:30pm daily @ French Creek Nature Center
Recognizing the historical nature of events, photographers arrived to capture Lorain’s devastation and monthslong recovery. Their photos would be used to produce dozens of post cards, some of which were sent across the country. This exhibit portrays some of those scenes and the impressions people had in the aftermath of that horrific day. For more information please visit https://www.loraincountymetroparks.com/french-creek-reservation
French Creek Nature Center "One Saturday Afternoon" Show Times
June 8, 2024 & July 13, 2024 at 9:30am - 10:45am @ French Creek Nature Center
Hear the story of the Lorain/Sandusky Tornado through the voices of historians and survivors as they relive the day that forever changed the lives for two cities and their people. For more information please visit https://www.loraincountymetroparks.com/french-creek-reservation
If you are interested in also participating in our guided walking tours on the same day, we suggest you sign up for our 11:15am tour or take a break and have some lunch in downtown Lorain and be ready for our 1:15pm tour. Please read more below*
Guided Walking Tour Schedule | Second Saturday's Main Street Lorain
June 8, July 13, August 10, September 14 | Tours begin at 11:15am & 1:15pm
Main Street Lorain is kicking off their Second Saturday block party events on Broadway in Downtown Lorain! Every second Saturday (June-September from 11-3pm) various organizations, local businesses, and other vendors line up on Broadway accompanied by live music and other various entertainment.
Join the Lorain Historical Society (LHS) for a guided walking tour led by a volunteer from LHS around Downtown Lorain. Learn about the historic event, alongside stories of the survivors of this deadly tornado. The duration of this tour is about an hour. Please wear comfortable shoes, as there won't be many places to stop.
You can purchase tickets at our LHS booth on the corner of 6th St. and Broadway. Tickets are $5 per person. You can pre-register for our event over the phone or by emailing us, but you must pay at our booth the day of the event.
Once you have registered for the event, meet your tour guide on Broadway between the Duane Building and Domino's Pizza near the benches. Our tour starts promptly at 11:15am or 1:15pm.
To pre-register for this event, you can call 440-245-2563 Ext 7001 or email mmaniaci@lorainhistory.org. Please be ready to provide your name, phone number, email address, number of tickets needed and your preferred date and time. Please note that although you have pre-registered for this event, you need to pay at our booth*
Lorain Public Library System "Tornado in a Bottle" Youth Program
June 18, 2024 at 1:00pm - 2:00pm @ Domonkas Branch
Mark the 100-year anniversary of the Lorain tornado by learning what weather conditions lead to the formation of a tornado, the physical science of their makeup and how they are tracked. Then make your own tornado in a bottle! To register please visit https://www.lorainpubliclibrary.org/programs?action=show&id=41932
Lorain Public Library System "One Day in June: 1924 Tornado Exploration"
June 22, 2024 at 10:30am - 11:30am @ Main Branch
By using historical text and photographs, staff will explain how the 1924 tornado devastated Lorain and how the city managed to rebuild after such a terrible disaster. To register please visit https://www.lorainpubliclibrary.org/programs?action=show&id=41964
Official Commemoration Event
June 28, 2024 at 12:00pm - 1:00pm Remembrance Ceremony @ Sunset Terrace
This remembrance event will honor the victims and survivors of the tornado. Join our project partners, city officials, and community leaders alongside family members of the victims and survivors of this deadly tornado. The Lakeview Park Bath House location was selected for this event because of its tragic history where the tornado first made landfall in Lorain. This event will be open to the public and registration is not required.
Lakeview Park Walking Tour (Following Commemoration Event)
June 28, 2024 at 1:00pm - 2:00pm | Meet at Fountain
Join Lorain County Metro Parks staff to discover the history of Lakeview Park. They will explore everything from the tornado to the rose garden and more! This walking tour will directly follow our Commemoration Event, you do not need to be present at the event to take this tour. This event will be open to the public and registration is not required.
The Lorain International Festival | Book Signing Event
June 28, 2024 at 6:00pm Announcement @ Black River Landing Main Stage
Acknowledgement during the Lorain International Festival’s opening remarks kicking off the festival weekend. Directly following our announcement, join us at our booth located inside the Transportation Center for all things Lorain Tornado and more! Our booth will be open Friday from 5-9pm, Saturday 12-9pm and Sunday 12-5pm.
June 28, 2024 at 5:00pm - 8:00pm Book Signing Event @ Transportation Center, (BRL)
Join author of "The 1924 Tornado in Lorain & Sandusky: Deadliest in Ohio History", Betsy D'Annibale in a book signing event at the Transportation Center during the festival. She will only be signing on Friday, June 28th from 5pm-8pm. You can purchase this book ahead of time in our gift shop or wait to purchase it at the event.
June 28 (5-9pm), June 29 (12-9pm), June 30 (12-5pm) @ Transportation Center, (BRL)
Our LHS Booth will be located at the Transportation Center during the Lorain International Festival. We'll be selling exclusive Lorain 1924 Tornado merchandise alongside other products. Visit our booth at the event to learn more about our organization and see images from the 1924 Lorain Tornado.
FireFish Festival
September 21, 2024 | 2:00pm - 11:00pm @ Downtown Lorain
The FREE FireFish Festival takes place every September around the time of the full moon, serving as the culmination and celebration of all FireFish Art’s programs. Each year, the event promises unique art installations, music, food, fun, fire – and the much anticipated and signature Illumination of the FireFish with its parade and pageantry. Learn more by visiting their website: https://www.firefishfestival.com/
Black River Stamp Club Annual Stamp Show Feat. Lorain Tornado
November 23, 2024 | 10:00am - 4:00pm @ St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Elyria
Purchase the exclusive Lorain Tornado Postmark and Cachet at the stamp show! Can't make the show? The postmark and cachet will be available for purchase at the Lorain Historical Society. Learn more by visiting their website: https://classic.stamps.org/Black-River-Stamp-Club
Lorain Historical Society Tornado
1924 Lorain Tornado Postcards & Photographs
Research & Explore
Lorain Historical Society volunteers have been describing and digitizing the extensive collection of Tornado photographs, postcards, and documents for the public to view and explore online. Check out our CatalogIt page dedicated to our Tornado Collection!
Volunteers have done their best to identify exact locations of images in the collection. Let us know if you have information or family history to add the collection!
We are extending an invitation to the community to document their family's history around the tornado. Click 'Share your Story' to share your story with us today!
Tornado Walking Tour
Can't join us on Broadway during Main Street Lorain's 'Second Saturday' events or want to take the tour on your own?
We've got you covered. Come into our Carnegie Center and purchase our 1924 Lorain Tornado Walking Tour Map and take a self-guided tour! Maps are $3.
For questions or concerns about booking a walking tour please contact our Curator, Kaitlyn Donaldson at kdonaldson@lorainhistory.org or call (440) 245 - 2563.
Our Products
Our products will be available ONLY in our Carnegie Center gift shop on May 11th. We are not currently offering shipping for our 1924 Tornado Collection at this time. For item availability please contact Office & Gift Shop Manager, Madison at (440) - 245 - 2563 Ext. 7001.
1924 Lorain Tornado Postmark & Cachet
Acquire your exclusive collector's edition '1924 Lorain Tornado' Postmark and Cachet today! Produced by the Black River Stamp Club and designed by a talented Lorain student, the Cachet showcases a unique illustration of the tornado. Each item includes a stamped postmark featuring our project's distinctive logo.
Available for $4 in our Carnegie Center Museum Gift Shop. Our hours are every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 10:00am until 2:00pm.
The Tornado Historical Marker
The Historic Marker has moved to Broadway! Check out the marker which has been placed near the historic Ariel Hotel on Broadway.
Mission
To honor the 100th anniversary of the 1924 Lorain tornado, local organizations are working together to remember the victims and survivors of the tornado and promote awareness around the rebuilding and rebirth that followed.
Events and activities to commemorate the tornado will be held beginning Friday, June 28, 2024 and continue throughout the summer of 2024. A central community program and event calendar can be found below.
Partners include the Lorain Historical Society, Lorain County Metro Parks, Main Street Lorain, the Morning Journal, FireFish Arts, Lorain Public Library System, the Black River Stamp Club, Lorain Port and Finance Authority, and the City of Lorain.
Involved Organizations
