Marker Logo HMdb.org THE HISTORICAL
MARKER DATABASE
“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
Near Iroquois in Kingsbury County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
 

The Manchester Tornado

 
 
The Manchester Tornado Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Ruth VanSteenwyk, May 29, 2018
1. The Manchester Tornado Marker
Inscription.

Just past suppertime, at about 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 24, 2003, the sky virtually fell on Manchester. A devastating F-4 category tornado with winds of more than 200 miles an hour came thundering in from the south. It hovered over the town, destroying the artifacts of Manchester's 122-year history, then thundered north toward the township line, obliterating two farmsteads that stood in its path. Buildings, clothing, family photos, furniture, appliances, trees-nearly everything was mangled, shredded, and vacuumed into the sky, often dropped miles way. Some of the town's six remaining residents were seriously injured. Friends and neighbors did whatever they could to help. Nothing would ever be quite the same, but most every one agreed on one thing- this massive storm could destroy our buildings, but it could not take away the Spirit of Manchester.

The National Geographic Society, which devoted a cover story, a television special, and an exhibit at its headquarters in Washington, D.C.., to the Manchester Tornado, observe that, as the center of the tornado approached, air pressure dropped 100 millibars in twelve seconds. "That's the biggest drop ever recorded," said tornado researcher Tim Samaras, "like stepping into an elevator and hurling up 4,000 feet in ten seconds."


 
Erected
Paid Advertisement
Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.
Click or scan to see
this page online
2007 by Gordon Rabenberg.
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Disasters. A significant historical date for this entry is June 24, 2003.
 
Location. 44° 22.182′ N, 97° 43.225′ W. Marker is near Iroquois, South Dakota, in Kingsbury County. Marker is on Kingsbury Ave., 0.1 miles north of U.S. 14, on the left when traveling north. This marker is part of the monument to the town of Manchester, SD erected after the devastating tornado destroyed the town. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 141 Kingsbury Ave, Iroquois SD 57353, United States of America. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Manchester, South Dakota (here, next to this marker); Harvy Dunn and Grace Ingalls Dow (here, next to this marker); Town Hall and Town Pump (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Manchester (here, next to this marker); KELO-LAND Centennial Gold Rush (approx. ¼ mile away); Harvey Dunn, N.A. (approx. ¼ mile away); Father Pierre Jean De Smet (approx. 8.1 miles away); St. Matthew Lutheran Church (approx. 8.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Iroquois.
 
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
 
Also see . . .  The Argus Leader Newspaper, "A look back at recent devastating tornadoes in S.D.". (Submitted on June 12, 2018, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota.)
The Manchester Town Monument image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Ruth VanSteenwyk, May 29, 2018
2. The Manchester Town Monument
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on June 13, 2018. It was originally submitted on June 12, 2018, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. This page has been viewed 810 times since then and 64 times this year. Photos:   1, 2. submitted on June 12, 2018, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.

Share this page.  
Share on Tumblr
m=118672

CeraNet Cloud Computing sponsors the Historical Marker Database.
This website earns income from purchases you make after using our links to Amazon.com. We appreciate your support.
Paid Advertisements
Mar. 28, 2024