On January 15, 1919, Boston’s North End — a neighborhood rich in Italian American heritage — was the site of a catastrophe that would become infamous in history: the Great Molasses Flood. A massive steel tank containing 2.3 million gallons of molasses burst, sending a 25-foot wave of the sticky substance through the streets at speeds up to 35 miles per hour. This devastating deluge killed 21 people, injured 150 others, and caused immeasurable damage to the densely populated working-class community.

The North End had long been a haven for immigrants, particularly Italians, who had built a vibrant enclave despite facing significant economic and social challenges. Many residents lived in overcrowded tenements near the waterfront, where the tank stood. Owned by the United States Industrial Alcohol Company, the structure had been hastily built during World War I to supply molasses for the production of industrial alcohol, a key ingredient in munitions.