As frightening and destructive as hurricanes are, at least in today's world we have warnings of their arrival. That was not the case in the early 19th century, when New York City was caught by surprise.
The Great September Gale hammered the growing city on September 3, 1821. The next day's newspapers described widespread destruction, and those who lived through the storm never forgot it.
And that particular hurricane holds a special place in history as a New Englander with scientific interests studied its effects. By noting the direction of trees toppled by the great storm, William C. Redfield came up with the theory that hurricanes were enormous whirlwinds.
Redfield's writings about rotating storms became the basis of modern hurricane science. And much of the hurricane lore we absorb watching news coverage of Hurricane Isaac this week will be rooted in the storm that caught New York City by surprise 191 years ago.
More: The Great New York City Hurricane
Illustration: William C. Redfield, early hurricane scientist/Library of Congress
Connect on Facebook: AboutHistory1800s
Follow on Twitter: @History1800s
Comments