University of Louisville
Photographic Archives

Whirling Tigers of the Air:

A Century of Louisville Tornadoes

Louisville has had many encounters with tornadoes and windstorms. In 1854, a January tornado sank 110 coal boats and killed 15 boatmen on the Ohio River; and an August tornado struck the partially built Third Presbyterian Church at 11th and Walnut, killing 18 parishioners.

In May 1860, 75 were killed on riverboats alone when a tornado passed from Louisville to Portsmouth OH (245 miles) in a swath 40 mile wide, in two hours, according to local papers; it was likely a series of storms.

Click Here for a Larger Image Rear of the Masonic Widow's and Orphan's Home after 1875 tornado.

The center section of the Masonic Widow's and Orphan's Home was destroyed in a June 2 1875 tornado, the first one for which there are photographs. No one was killed, but $30,000 damage was done and the Home was not fully occupied until 1881.

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Ruins of the Water Tower, photo by E. Klauber.

The tornado of March 27 1890 remains the 25th most deadly storm in US history. 13 tornadoes struck across the Midwest that day, killing 31 before the storms reached Kentucky. Counts of the dead vary from 74 to over 120; the latter number probably includes those who died of their injuries, often described as "mangled" or "mushed" by the papers. 55 were killed at the Falls City Hall, where several groups and a dancing class were meeting.

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10th and Main Streets looking west, ruins in the tobacco warehouse district.
Photo by W. Stuber & Bro.

The storm struck the western suburb of Parkland first, moved through the west side of downtown and the warehouse district, crossed the Ohio and then returned to tear down the Water Tower at the City's eastern limits. In all, 5 churches, 7 railroad depots, 2 public halls, 3 schools, 10 tobacco warehouses, 32 manufacturing plants and 532 dwellings were destroyed. Property damage was around 2 1/2 million in 1890 dollars. The next morning the newspaper called the storm "the whirling tiger of the air".

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Men digging through the rubble of the Falls City Hall. Photo by W. Stuber & Bro.

The City organized crews of 60 men each who worked day and night searching the wreckage, along with families and friends. Sightseers started arriving the next day, and the Guard was called to control the crowds. The City refused any outside aid. The Board of Trade organized a relief committee to oversee the recovery, and the Board also authorized $15,000 in pensions to widows and orphans of the storm.

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Ruins of Union Depot. Photographer unknown.

Photographers and studios who were on the scene include Edward Klauber, William Stuber & Bro., Frank Wybrant, Mrs. (Linnie) Condon, J.C. Elrod, E. Reuling, and W. N. Jennings of Tennessee and Geo. Barker of Niagra Falls, who may have been passing through on the train.

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On April 3, 1974 over 140 tornadoes struck the Midwest, killing 322. Over 20 tornados struck Kentucky and Southern Indiana, killing 31 in Brandenburg alone. Two deaths occurred in Louisville.

Audubon School. Photo by Lin Caufield.

At 4:35, a tornado touched down at Standiford Field and passed through the Fairgrounds, Audubon Park, down Eastern Parkway to Cherokee Park, to Crescent Hill, Brownsboro Road and on to Prospect. It was on the ground 20 minutes.