Lancaster in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

St. Francis Dam Disaster

Lancaster Cemetery

Photographed By Craig Baker, March 26, 2019

1. St. Francis Dam Disaster Marker

Inscription. In remembrance of those who lost their lives in the St. Francis Dam disaster March 12-13, 1928. This was one of California’s greatest disasters with over 400 lives lost; five of whom were laid to rest at Lancaster Cemetery.

Erected 2018.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Disasters. A significant historical date for this entry is March 12, 1928.

Location. 34° 41.812′ N, 118° 7.81′ W. Marker is in Lancaster, California, in Los Angeles County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of East Lancaster Boulevard and Division Street. Located in the south-west corner of Lancaster Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 111 East Lancaster Boulevard, Lancaster CA 93535, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Jacqueline Cochran (approx. 0.4 miles away); F-4 Phantom II (approx. 0.4 miles away); John B. "Jack" McKay (approx. half a mile away); Henry E. "Hank" Chouteau (approx. half a mile away); Colonel Jesse P. "Jake" Jacobs, Jr. (approx. half a mile away); Colonel Jack L. Ridley (approx. half a mile away); Arthur K. "Kit" Murray (approx. half a mile away); Thomas C. McMurtry (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lancaster.

Regarding St. Francis Dam Disaster.

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

The St. Francis Dam was constructed from 1924 to 1926, with a 12.5-billion-gallon capacity. At 11:57 pm on March 12, 1928, the dam failed, sending a 180-foot-high wall of water down San Francisquito Canyon to the Santa Clara River, reaching the Pacific Ocean near Ventura 5½ hours later. Over 400 people were killed. It was the second-worst disaster in California history, after the great San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906, in terms of lives lost, and America's worst civil engineering failure of the 20th Century. On March 12, 2019, the Saint Francis Dam Disaster National Monument was established.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. — St. Francis Dam Disaster Sites.

Photographed By Craig Baker, March 26, 2019

2. St. Francis Dam Disaster Marker

Marker Detail image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Baker, March 26, 2019

3. Marker Detail

Photo on the marker shows the St. Francis Dam.

One of the nearby tribute markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Baker, March 26, 2019

4. One of the nearby tribute markers

St. Francis Dam image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Baker

5. St. Francis Dam

Located 30 miles southwest of the cemetery.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 26, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 350 times since then and 57 times this year. Last updated on December 21, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 26, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 5. submitted on December 25, 2019. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.