In Search of the Eastland Disaster Memorial

On Saturday, I stopped in Michigan City, Indiana, on my way home from the Fiction Readers Summit. I pulled up to the parking attendant at Washington Park Beach. “I’m looking for any kind of Eastland Disaster memorial,” I told him. I had read it was around here somewhere.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said.

So I told him what many of you already know if you’ve read my novel, Drawn by the Current. On July 24, 1915, the SS Eastland tipped over in the Chicago River while still tied to the dock. 844 people lost their lives. Their destination had been Washington Park Beach in Michigan City, Indiana for their annual picnic with fellow Western Electric employees.

“Huh,” said the parking attendant as he took my money and waved me through.

The weather was in the 50s, with a wind that cut right through my clothes. Not many others were around. I found myself thinking of this empty beach and the empty park behind it as it must have been on July 24, 1915. More than 7000 employees had been slated to fill these spaces that day. There were going to be picnics, foot-races, ice cream, baseball, swimming, dancing. It would have been the highlight of their year. But the Eastland and other chartered ships never came.

I was really cold by Lake Michigan. I did what I normally do in this weather—I walked fast. Then I told myself to slow down. To stop, even though my ears hurt from the cold and the wind pulled my hair in all directions. Remembering tragedy isn’t supposed to be comfortable. So I remembered, and it hurt, and that is exactly as it should be.

After my visit to the beach, I found the Old Lighthouse Museum nearly within spitting distance behind it. That’s where I found the memorial to the Eastland Disaster.

The memorial chain referenced in the previous photo can be seen on the left.

Inside the museum, there was a display on the Eastland Disaster.

Visiting the beach, park, and lighthouse was such a meaningful experience for me. I wrote about those who died and those who survived in Drawn by the Current. The novel won an award, I’ve released another novel, and I’m about to turn in another one. But even though the wheels of the publishing industry keep on turning, I don’t think I’ll ever move on from the Eastland Disaster. It will always hold a special place in my heart, and I'll always be grateful for the continuing work of the Old Lighthouse Museum Michigan City Historical Society and the Eastland Disaster Historical Society.

Pics taken inside the Lantern Room at the top of the Old Lighthouse Museum

P.S. If you would like to visit this area, park at the Old Lighthouse Museum Michigan City Historical Society, and enjoy their displays for the $5 fee. It's well worth it. The museum is packed with information that I didn't include here. Then walk to the beach and park instead of paying a separate parking fee.

Have you ever gone in search of a site that was important in a novel you read? Tell us about it.

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About the Author:

Jocelyn Green

Jocelyn Green inspires faith and courage as the award-winning and bestselling author of numerous fiction and nonfiction books, including The Mark of the King; Wedded to War; and The 5 Love Languages Military Edition, which she coauthored with bestselling author Dr. Gary Chapman. Her books have garnered starred reviews from Booklist and Publishers Weekly, and have been honored with the Christy Award, the gold medal from the Military Writers Society of America, and the Golden Scroll Award from the Advanced Writers & Speakers Association. She graduated from Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, with a B.A. in English, concentration in writing. As a speaker, Jocelyn inspires faith and courage in her audiences. She loves Mexican food, Broadway musicals, strawberry-rhubarb pie, the color red, and reading with a cup of tea. Jocelyn lives with her husband Rob and two children in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Visit her at www.jocelyngreen.com.

Comments

I’ve never gone in search of

I’ve never gone in search of a site from a novel that I’ve read but that would be fun.

I've never been to any of

I've never been to any of these locations, but the NY library would be a fun experience!

The NY library is an amazing

The NY library is an amazing place to visit! My daughter is a librarian and wanted to go there and she, I and my daughter-in-law traveled to New York City (2 hr trip).The ambience in the place is just overwhelming. Well worth the trip. We also went to central park, the metropolitan museum of art and across the street from the NY library is a French bakery that makes amazing chocolate croissants!

No, but I've visited places

No, but I've visited places that I later read about in a novel. :)

The chain links weighed down

The chain links weighed down my heart. Oh that image and what it represents. Heartbreaking. Thank you for sharing your journey.

Yes. My husband and I have

Yes. My husband and I have visited sites from the revolutionary and civil wars. I love historical fiction.

There are several books I've

There are several books I've read about places I had already visited -- Madrid (Tricia Goyer's Spanish Civil War Series), Williamsburg, VA (When the Day Comes by Gabrielle Meyer), Chicago (this book and the other two in your series), and many more. It is always interesting to have the picture of the place in my mind when I read, making the book more interesting. I did have a chance to drive the Oregon Trail, which had been the setting for several books I've read in the past (some by Jane Kirkpatrick) and I've traveled some of the roads related to Laura Ingalls Wilder's travels. It is so much more meaningful to visit and picture the books in my mind afterwards -- makes the site more interesting.

Yes, I have gone to many of

Yes, I have gone to many of the Little House on the Prairie locations. I learned about these as a young schoolgirl and my teacher had us read these stories and it was part of our state's history and I have gone back to them and taken my daughter and granddaughter as well.

Not specifically to a novel,

Not specifically to a novel, but I do love visiting historic places.

Thank you for sharing this

Thank you for sharing this story.

I love that you got to take

I love that you got to take this trip! What an experience! It's definitely a dream of mine too be able to explore in person the places I've visited through my novels. We don't have a lot of money to travel yet, but I created a list of the most intriguing places in novels through Google maps (referencing which book is associated with the place) so that when the time comes, I'll be ready for an adventure with a great story to go with it.

Growing up in SW Michigan, it

Growing up in SW Michigan, it was fun to see and hear familiar sights from A Time Traveler's Wife. After finishing the novel, I went back to revisit the streets/sights mentioned in the book.

Wow, what a tragedy! I had

Wow, what a tragedy! I had never heard of it either!

I haven't searched for a site

I haven't searched for a site yet that I've read about in fiction. However, I've read all of Connilyn Cossette's OT fiction and I REALLY want to go to Israel. Both my husband and I have our passports and he's game, so maybe someday?

I have gone on MANY Google

I have gone on MANY Google searches, but none in person.

How tragic such a loss of

How tragic such a loss of life and entire families...that affects the genealogy line forever. Enjoyed reading about your experience. Will have to get your book now. I have been to several civil war sites and would like to get to some others I have read about.

I visited the areas off the

I visited the areas off the shore of Georgia that are part of Eugenia Price’s St Simons series. I loved reading it as a teenager and still have my copies. My father saw to it that we enjoyed visiting many landmarks during our time in Europe so sometimes I get to visit those places again when they are included in historical novels. Thank you for sharing about the Eastland Disaster. Historical events, especially those where lives were lost, should be respected and kept alive.

What beautiful pictures!

What beautiful pictures! Sounds like you had an amazing time

No. But I have read quite a

No. But I have read quite a few books set on the moors and I would LOVE to visit someday to see it in person.

I enjoy visiting historic

I enjoy visiting historic sites, both in person and through the pages of historical novels! I am hoping to do a Windy City tour someday...

Nothing springs to mind, but

Nothing springs to mind, but reading novels makes me want to travel to all kinds of places :)

I can't recall searching for

I can't recall searching for a site after reading a novel, but I've definitely picked out novels because they've been situated in places that I have fond memories of visiting, such as Mackinaw Island or Paris!

No I have never visited a

No I have never visited a site that was important in a book. But I always wanted too. I love to read civil war stories. I always wanted to visit Gettysburg, PA. Site of a civil war battle. I am from PA. But never went there. I did go to Atlanta GA in 1988. So that was in Gone With The Wind. A book about the civil war. I fidget about that. I never heard of the Eastland disaster. I need to read your book and find out about it. I live in Ohio now. Hope to go to the Columbus Book Festival in July to meet you. See you then.

No I have never visited a

I've always loved the civil

I've always loved the civil war period and read many novels about it (in addition to memorizing the Gettysburg address!) So visiting Gettysburg for me was awe inspiring. Reading your series after visiting the place made it all that much more impactful.

I'm about to! In October we

I'm about to! In October we are taking a cruise to New England and Canada that will include Prince Edward Island. I'm excited to be visiting the home of Anne of Green Gables. I just started reading the books again in preparation (it's been a long time since I last read them!).

I read The Bells of Lowell

I read The Bells of Lowell series by Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller. These books motivated me to go to Lowell National Historic Park in Massachusetts to see the sites in the novels and the mill room exhibit.

I have never gone on a search

I have never gone on a search for a site I have read in a novel But this sounds very interesting Thank you for sharing!

I read The Bells of Lowell

I read The Bells of Lowell Series by Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller. It motivated me to visit Lowell National Historic Park in Massachusetts to see the sites in the book and loom exhibit. (This is duplicate as I forgot to add email last time)

I love visiting historical

I love visiting historical sites, but I’ve never planned any trips around a setting of a novel. I may have to change this! I think that would be fun!

I was in Mexico with five of

I was in Mexico with five of my cousins for a summer vacation and we decided to take a day road trip and go see the original Hotel California. We were in a Jeep and my cousin was driving. The road was up and down hills and was a narrow, one lane dirt road with a steep cliff on the one side. My cousin’s wife was screaming for him to turn around and go back. Obviously there was no place to turn around. The Hotel California song by the Eagles was playing non-stop all the way for the 4-5 hour drive and we laughed and sand the song all the way. When we got there, I was surprised to see how small it actually was. We had a lovely breakfast on the terrace and then shopped in the still dirt floor of the converted gift shop. It was fascinating to actually see the building after hearing about it for so many years.

There have been several

There have been several locations I thought would be interesting to visit, but I've only visited 2 of the Laura Ingalls Wilders homes, one in Wisconsin and one in South Dakota.

"Remembering tragedy isn’t

"Remembering tragedy isn’t supposed to be comfortable. So I remembered, and it hurt, and that is exactly as it should be." That is so, so true.

I've never gone to on a

I've never gone to on a search for places in a book I read, but I've read books that take place in places I had been before reading the book. I've always wanted to go to sites from the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder since I loved those books as a child.

I grew up in the West so I

I grew up in the West so I have visited a lot of the places that books set in the West Feature. I have not set out on purpose to visit a place in a book

Unfortunately, I can’t afford

Unfortunately, I can’t afford to explore places I read about in novels at this stage in life. However, I’ve enjoyed family vacations to places such as Glacier park, Montana and Mackinac Island, Michigan that have been mentioned or set at in some of my favorite books!

I have visited the Great

I have visited the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan ---- so many ships sitting somewhere at the bottom of the five Great Lakes. The song " the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" prompted the visit and I remember, when it went down.

No I haven’t. I have done

No I haven’t. I have done more research on the internet though.

I love this idea! I haven't

I love this idea! I haven't gone somewhere specifically because it is was in a novel but I've definitely visited several that I then remembered were in a novel, like the Dakotas, Valentine NE, and San Andreas CA. I would love to visit Prince Edward Island in the future!

I got to see a re-enactment

I got to see a re-enactment of the Battle of Shiloh. They also had ladies that were dressed in the Civil War era there. Oh and a covered wagon. It was amazing.

I remember visiting it as a I

I remember visiting it as a I was growing up. Many years ago. Just as with the Titanic it was such a lesson in how people miss safety in ideas.

Since most of the books I

Since most of the books I read are set in England during the Regency era I have not been able to visit any of the sites from those books. I read some historical fiction set in America, but I haven’t been to any of the sites.

I have not searched out novel

I have not searched out novel locations, but I think it would be enjoyable.

I read the Change and Cherish

I read the Change and Cherish series by Jane Kirkpatrick because of a trip to a local museum as a teenager. I then visited other local sites after reading the books.

Yes, my husband and I have

Yes, my husband and I have visited so very many sights all over the world. It really makes the books and events come alive. Thank you for sharing.

I’ve never gone in search of

I’ve never gone in search of a site from a novel that I’ve read.

I love reading and history so

I love reading and history so I've been to quite a few places. In the U.S. I've been to a lot of the Civil War and Revolutionary War sites, all of Laura Ingall's homes, Boston which has so many books set there, NYC, including the library, Empire State Building and Radio Music Hall. And I live in Southern California where a lot of fiction is based because of Hollywood. In Europe I've been to Versailles - I've read just about every book on Marie Antoinette, London, Paris, Rome, Vienna, Florence and Vienna. And I've read at least one fiction book set in each of these places.

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In Search of the Eastland Disaster Memorial

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