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.  

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.

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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