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1951 Flood Photo Gallery
Poyntz Avenue (from top to bottom in
photo) between 7th and 8th Streets in Manhattan (Kansas State Historical
Society copy and reuse restrictions
apply).
Results of
the overflow of the Kansas River at the Union Pacific Station (photo courtesy of
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service,
Lawrence).
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Results of the overflow of the Kansas River at the Union Pacific
Station (photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources
Conservation Service, Lawrence)
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Results of the overflow of the Kansas River at the Union Pacific
Station (photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources
Conservation Service, Lawrence)
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Aerial view of floodwaters in North Topeka. Cloverleaf on U.S. Hwy. 24 and
Jayhawk Junior Motel in upper right (Kansas State Historical Society
copy and reuse restrictions
apply).
The cloverleaf in North Topeka at the junction of U.S.
Hwys. 24 and 75. The recently opened Jayhawk Junior Motel was underwater up its
roof. Photo looking southeast (photo courtesy of G.L. Sardou, Topeka, Kansas).
Rock Island
railroad bridge and U.S. Hwy. 75 bridge (Topeka Boulevard, center), Melan bridge
(Kansas Avenue, upper right), Santa Fe railroad bridge (top right) after washing
out. Photo looking northeast (photo courtesy of G.L. Sardou, Topeka, Kansas).
Topeka Boulevard bridge looking southeast from North Topeka (photo courtesy of
G.L. Sardou, Topeka, Kansas ).
North Kansas
Avenue (from top to bottom) looking southwest (photo courtesy of G.L. Sardou,
Topeka, Kansas).
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Locomotives
sit on the railroad bridge in hopes of protecting it from the raging waters
(Kansas State Historical Society
copy and reuse restrictions apply).
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The Santa
Fe railroad bridge, only the outer spans survived. Locomotives were used in
hopes of protecting the bridge, but four were lost in the collapse (Kansas
State Historical Society copy
and reuse restrictions apply).
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Aerial view of Topeka, looking southwest.
Santa Fe Railroad bridge in center (photo courtesy of G.L. Sardou, Topeka,
Kansas).
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The Kansas River
(at top) overflows its banks and surrounds the Rock Island Railroad Station, in
center (photo courtesy of G.L. Sardou, Topeka, Kansas).
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The Topeka Owls Baseball Park underwater, Scott's Meat
Market in center foreground (photo courtesy of G.L. Sardou, Topeka, Kansas).
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Plant, looking toward the north (photo courtesy of
G.L. Sardou, Topeka, Kansas).
No flights today. Topeka Municipal Airport completely inundated
by floodwaters (photo courtesy of G.L. Sardou, Topeka, Kansas).
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Topeka Water Treatment Plant sits
high and dry, thanks to a dike made of sandbags. The old Brickyard Bridge,
upper right, gave way to the fury of the Kansas River (photo courtesy of G.L.
Sardou, Topeka, Kansas).
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Topeka's Manor Baking
Co., a Standard Service station, and residences underwater (Kansas State
Historical Society copy
and reuse restrictions apply).
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Angry floodwater rushes under the Lawrence bridge, looking north (photo courtesy
of Lawrence Journal World).
Hundreds are
saved from porches and roof tops (photo courtesy of Lawrence Journal World).
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Cutting begins at the bridge
approach, and more water is coming. Johnny's Tavern in background (photo
courtesy of Lawrence Journal World).
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More rain as evacuation by boat gets underway.
Johnny's Tavern in background. Local Man, Ralph Miller, is standing, wearing a
wide-brimmed hat, coveralls and a jacket.(photo courtesy of Lawrence Journal World)
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Water
goes in the windows at the Union Pacific station (photo courtesy of Lawrence
Journal World).
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A
mighty force tear a section out of Elm Street (photo courtesy of Lawrence
Journal World).
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Locust Street was limited to boat traffic for several days (photo courtesy
of Lawrence Journal World).
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Cole's Food Store as the water rises; six feet more to come
(photo courtesy of Lawrence Journal World).
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The same store after the water had gone--a total wreck (photo courtesy
of Lawrence Journal World).
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Only a
housetop is visible at Sixth and Perry Streets (photo courtesy of Lawrence
Journal World).
Water covers
the floor of the Santa Fe station (photo courtesy of Lawrence Journal World).
Lawrence Municipal Airport was in the center of a vast boiling sea (photo
courtesy of Lawrence Journal World).
Westvaco's
new $3,500,000 chemical plant is inundated (photo courtesy of Lawrence Journal
World).
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A church top comes to rest on the Union Pacific tracks (photo courtesy
of Lawrence Journal World)
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Here lies a former automobile, close by the Union
Pacific station (photo courtesy of Lawrence Journal World).
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Concrete paving was no match for the angry Kansas River (photo courtesy of
Lawrence Journal World).
A scene typical of many sad homecomings in North Lawrence (photo courtesy of
Lawrence Journal World).
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Tractors covered by sand, mud, and debris in the wake of the flood near
Lawrence (photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources
Conservation Service, Lawrence)
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County road washed out near Beaty Collins farm, (Lakeview Road,
east-west), 100 yards south of the Kansas River, Douglas County, Kansas. On
both sides of the road valuable cropland was lost from the overflow of the
Kansas River (photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural
Resources Conservation Service, Lawrence)
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Aerial
view of flooding at the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri Rivers in Kansas City
looking northeast on July 13, 1951 (photo courtesy of Warner Studio, Kansas City,
Missouri).
Aerial view of Kansas City flood,
downtown Kansas City, Missouri, in background (Kansas State Historical Society
copy and reuse restrictions apply).
Kansas City fights fire and
water (photo courtesy of Lawrence Journal World).
Flood damage at Kansas Avenue and Berger, July 26, 1951 (Kansas
State Historical Society copy
and reuse restrictions apply).
Flood damage--Union Pacific railroad
yard, looking west from 7th Street (Kansas State Historical Society
copy and reuse restrictions
apply).
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