The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together to aid the "Johnstown sufferers." The story of the Johnstown Flood reminds us all, "...that we must leave nothing undone for the preservation and protection of our brother men."
Photo: NPS Photo
Johnstown Flood National Memorial
The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA.
- LocationSouth Fork, PA
- Entrance No fee listed
- HoursToday: 9:00AM - 5:00PM
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Weather now75°F Sunny
- Alerts No active alerts
Overview
Topics
- Architecture and Building
- Arts
- Burial, Cemetery and Gravesite
- Canals
- Dams
- Engineering
- Floods
- Headwaters
12 more topics
- Industry
- Lakes
- Monuments and Memorials
- Painting
- Photography
- River and Riparian
- Tragic Events
- Trails
- Trains and Railroads
- Transportation
- Watersheds
- Wetlands
Things to Do
15 experiences from the National Park Service. Check details on NPS.gov before you go.
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Attend a Tales of the Great Flood Presentation
Tales of the Great Flood cover a wide variety of topics relating to the Johnstown Flood.
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Attend an Evening on the Lake Presentation
Evening on the Lake presentations are on select Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. during the summer months.
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Club House and Cottage Row Walking Tours
Reservation required
Club House and Cottage Row Walking Tours are part of our programming for the anniversary of the 1889 Johnstown Flood.
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Drive past the Club House and Cottages
Reservation required
The Club House and nine cottages that were once owned by the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club are still standing in present day Saint Michael on Main Street. Park signs will direct visitors from…
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Have lunch at the picnic area
Relax in the picnic area, located off of South Abutment Road.
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Hike the Carriage Road Nature Trail
The Carriage Road Nature Trail follows the carriage road that the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club members would have taken after they crossed the top of the South Fork Dam on their journey from…
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Hike with a ranger through the ruins of the South Fork Dam
Join a Park Ranger for an interpretive walk that will take you to the bottom of the dam, through the breach and back out on the other side. This program is offered through the summer. The walk can…
Learn more about Hike with a ranger through the ruins of the South Fork Dam on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab) -
Lake View Visitor Center bookstore
The bookstore at Johnstown Flood National Memorial is operated by America's National Parks. The bookstore is on the upper level of the Lake View Visitor Center. It contains books about the Johnstown…
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Learn about the Johnstown Flood in the Visitor Center
The Visitor Center and has two floors of exhibits and a park film. Visitors will learn about the Johnstown Flood of May 31, 1889.
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May 31 Anniversary
Monday, May 31, 2027, is the 138th anniversary of the Johnstown Flood of May 31, 1889.
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Path of the Flood Van Tours
Reservation required
Ranger-guided Path of the Flood van tours are a great way to learn about the destructive force of the Johnstown Flood of May 31, 1889.
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The Junior Ranger Program
The Junior Ranger program is available in the Lake View Visitor Center. Ask the Ranger on duty for a booklet. The program booklets are available by age group; 5-7, 8-10, and 11-13. Upon completion of…
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View the park film "Black Friday."
The park film "Black Friday" is 35 minutes in length. It is shown at 15 minutes past the hour (9:15, 10:15, 11:15, 12:15, 1:15, 2:15, 3:15, 4:15). "Black Friday" is rated PG (parental guidance…
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Visit the remains of the South Fork Dam
Visitors can access the North and South Abutments on the remains of the South Fork Dam.
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Walk Through the Ruins Trail
The Walk Through the Ruins Trail, off of the South Abutment Road near the parking lot, takes walkers to the bottom of the dam, through the breach and back up out of the dam on the other side.
Learn more about Walk Through the Ruins Trail on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
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Facilities & Services
Find visitor services available in the park. Check current hours and availability before you go.
Other Visitor Services
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Johnstown Flood National Memorial Visitor Center
Facility
The Visitor Center has two floors of displays that explain the history of the South Fork Dam, the South Fork Fishing & Hunting Club, and how and why the 1889 Johnstown…
South Fork, PA (814) 886-6170 Directions
Details
The Visitor Center has two floors of displays that explain the history of the South Fork Dam, the South Fork Fishing & Hunting Club, and how and why the 1889 Johnstown Flood occurred. There is also a 35 minute film,"Black Friday," shown every :15 past the hour, with the first showing of the day at 9:15 and the last showing at 4:15.
Plan Your Visit
Hours
Today: 9:00AM - 5:00PM · Johnstown Flood National Memorial
Hours details
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Johnstown Flood National MemorialToday: 9:00AM - 5:00PM
Hours of Operations The Visitor Center is closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The Visitor Center is open Fridays through Tuesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Park grounds and trails are open daily from sunrise to sunset. The Visitor Center is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. "All Park Hours" reflects the hours of operation for the Visitor Center.
Monday 9:00AM - 5:00PM Tuesday 9:00AM - 5:00PM Wednesday Closed Thursday Closed Friday 9:00AM - 5:00PM Saturday 9:00AM - 5:00PM Sunday 9:00AM - 5:00PM
Entrance fees
No entrance fees listed.
Contact the park
Weather & conditions
75°F
Sunny · feels like 71°
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Today
75° 53°
Sunny10% rain
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Tomorrow
72° 59°
Sunny25% rain
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Thursday
59° 51°
Overcast41% rain
Updated 4 hr ago
What to expect by season
Winters can be cold and severe. Spring can be seasonable and wet. Summer can be hot with potentials for thunderstorms. Fall can be seasonal, with cold temperatures into October and November.
Photos
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The Double Cottage once served as a structure for the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club — NPS -
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3 more photos
Getting There
South Fork, PA 15956
Take US Route 219 to the St Michael/Sidman exit. At the end of the exit ramp head East on PA 869 (there is a park sign at the end of the exit ramp).
Full directions
Travel approximately 1.5 miles on PA 869 watching for a left turn onto Lake Road at the sign for Johnstown Flood National Memorial. Follow Lake Road 1.5 miles until the visitor center appears on your right. Please park safely in the designated parking lot and not block any emergency access roads.
Mailing address: 733 Lake Road, South Fork, PA 15956
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