Overview

• A bridge collapse in Dixon, Illinois in 1873 killed 46 people and injured 56 others during a baptism procession.
• The poorly designed bridge had collapsed before and was known as "The Truesdell Trap" and "The Patent Wholesale Drowning Machine."
• The collapse was caused by the weight of the crowd on the bridge and trapped victims under its ironwork like a gate.
• The bustles of women's fashion at the time may have contributed to the high number of women and children killed, making up most of the victims.
• A new memorial will be dedicated at the site of the collapse on May 7, 2023 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of one of the deadliest disasters in US history.