All Episodes

February 3, 2025 19 mins

On January 15ᵗʰ, 1919, a massive tank holding 2.3 million gallons of molasses had exploded, flooding Boston's north end docks with sticky molasses. Purity Distilling Company had been warned several times that the tank was creaking, leaking molasses, but the company ignored these warnings, until it was too late. Thousands of gallons flowed across Boston’s North End, resulting in several deaths. Rumor has it that on warm days, one can still smell the molasses.


Thanks to Mike Meyers for the theme music, you can follow him on X @themikeshow42.


Background music is: Circular Disorder by Unheard Music Concepts, Free Music Archive (CC BY) https://tinyurl.com/CircularDisorder


SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

www.notyourhistoryclass.com

https://www.instagram.com/notyourhistoryclass/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566814031230

https://x.com/nyhcpodcast

https://www.tiktok.com/@notyourhistoryclass



SOURCES


https://www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/great-boston-molasses-disaster-1919/

https://www.npr.org/2019/01/15/685154620/a-deadly-tsunami-of-molasses-in-bostons-north-end

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/molasses-floods-boston-streets

https://www.history.com/news/the-great-molasses-flood-of-1919

https://allthatsinteresting.com/boston-molasses-flood#4

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/great-boston-molasses-flood-1919-killed-21-after-2-million-n958326

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Great-Molasses-Flood

https://www.shefflaw.com/how-the-boston-molasses-flood-began-a-new-era-of-liability/

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/27366/bostons-great-molasses-flood-1919

https://www.history.com/topics/roaring-twenties/prohibition

https://www.wbur.org/news/2019/01/15/molasses-environment-disaster-boston-harbor

Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

24/7 News: The Latest
Therapy Gecko

Therapy Gecko

An unlicensed lizard psychologist travels the universe talking to strangers about absolutely nothing. TO CALL THE GECKO: follow me on https://www.twitch.tv/lyleforever to get a notification for when I am taking calls. I am usually live Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays but lately a lot of other times too. I am a gecko.

The Joe Rogan Experience

The Joe Rogan Experience

The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.