Come and Take It

One hundred fourteen years ago today, the Hurricane of 1900—sometimes known as Isaacs Storm or just the Galveston Hurricane—was and remains the deadliest natural disaster in United States history. A fifth of the population of the barrier island at the southern end of Galveston Bay was lost, and the true cost of this deadly storm is nearly impossible to measure. Why was it so deadly, and how did it become intrinsically linked with the name Isaac Cline?

Before we begin… What’s your favorite Galveston landmark?

• The Weather Doctor talks about Isaac Cline and his relationship to the storm, and also has a good article on the storm itself.

• The Handbook of Texas Online has an entry about the hurricane, as well as one about commission-style government and its origins in the aftermath of the 1900 storm.

• Erik Larson’s wonderful book Isaac’s Storm really brings the whole tragic event to life.