At the July meeting of the WHG&HS, members were captivated by a powerful presentation from Dave Alexander on the historic Pueblo Flood of 1921.
Around 6:30 p.m. on June 3, 1921, a warning went out—floodwaters were rushing toward Pueblo following a sudden and intense cloudburst just 10 miles upstream on the Arkansas River.
The storm was fierce, dumping over 5 inches of rain in just 30 minutes and reducing visibility to nearly zero. The deluge also caused Fountain Creek to swell some 30 miles to the north, and when its waters merged with the Arkansas, the results were devastating. Pueblo’s entire commercial district was submerged under more than 10 feet of water, and the flood permanently shifted the course of the Arkansas River nearly half a mile south of its original path.
At the train station in Pueblo, Train #3 was delayed at the depot. Many passengers left to grab a bite to eat up the hill at Pueblo Junction—an act that likely saved their lives. When the floodwaters came rushing in, those who remained on board were quickly engulfed by water rising up to 11 feet. Train cars were swept off the tracks and overturned, trapping passengers and livestock inside. Debris clogged drainage channels, creating makeshift dams that only worsened the flooding. To make matters worse, the local power plant had been storing telephone poles, which turned into battering rams as the water surged—smashing through structures and railcars with devastating force. In the end, more than 500 people died, 1,400 went missing and were never found, 15,000 were left homeless, 500 homes were destroyed, and 67 businesses were lost.
The flood covered more than 300 square miles and caused $20 million in damage.
At Roselawn Cemetery, there is a mass grave for 250–300 unidentified victims, tragically buried without names due to the lack of refrigeration at the time. Among them are lives lost in the 1904 Eden Train Wreck and the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic.
In the aftermath, a state-funded levee was constructed and completed in 1926—but only after Pueblo agreed to support the building of the Moffat Tunnel outside Denver. Unfortunately, the tunnel rerouted rail traffic, dealing a heavy blow to Pueblo’s economy. Nearly 900 businesses left the city, prompting a shift to steel production as Pueblo’s main industry—an era that lasted until the 1980s when automation at the steel mill replaced 5,000 workers.
There were many heroes—among them, a train conductor who lost his life while trying to save others, and telephone operators who stayed at their posts to keep communication lines open. In the aftermath, the city pulled together, relocating the commercial district to higher ground along Main Street. The iconic clock tower at Union Station was reduced in height during cleanup efforts. Though the station has since been restored, remnants of the disaster remain—there’s still flood-era dirt lingering in its basement to this day.
Dave also shared insights into General Palmer’s lasting influence on Pueblo, the fierce race between the Denver & Rio Grande and Santa Fe railroads to reach Leadville first, and even the presence of the Mafia in Pueblo. Members joined in by contributing their own memories and local knowledge, making for a lively and enriching discussion.
Many thanks to Dave Alexander for his fascinating and informative presentation! You can view historic photographs from The Case of Train #3 and the Alexander family collection in the photo album linked HERE
