Dave Truitt Film Series: Eastland: Chicago’s Deadliest Day

Join us for a free screening of Eastland: Chicago’s Deadliest Day and a panel discussion moderated by author Jay Bonansinga featuring: 

• Michael McCarthy, author of Ashes Under Water: The SS Eastland and the Shipwreck That Shook America  

• Dr. Caitlyn Perry Dial, SS Eastland Disaster expert, public historian, and director of development at Michigan State University Libraries 

• Chuck Coppola, executive producer, writer, and narrator for Eastland 

On July 24, 1915, passengers packed aboard the SS Eastland never suspected that the Great Lakes excursion steamer had a dark past. But others knew, and the tragedy that would end 844 lives became Chicago’s shameful secret. Eastland combines storylines of greed, corruption, exploitation of immigrants, a cover-up, and hundreds of casualties in one of America's worst maritime tragedies. In addition, it features rare newsreel footage, previously censored for Chicago audiences. 

Free; RSVP required. 

Eastland: Chicago’s Deadliest Day and the Dave Truitt Historical Documentary Series are underwritten exclusively by DAVE TRUITT 

Questions? Contact Nell McKeown, development events manager, at mckeown@chicagohistory.org or (312) 799-2112