Marshall University’s Virtual Museum:
Buffalo Creek Flood, 1972

Buffalo Creek in Logan County, West Virgimia, has had its share of coal mining tragedies. In February 1958 the Amerherst Coal Company's mine at Lundale had a slate fall that killed six miners. Ten years later in December 1968 the Buffalo Mining Company had three killed in a mine fire at nearby Lyburn.

Yet, the most devastating disaster occurred on February 26, 1972. After a rain-soddened impoundment dam of the Buffalo Creek Coal Company collapsed, 138 million gallons of black waste water cascaded down the narrow hollow. By the time the water subsided at the Guyandotte River, 125 persons were dead, another 1,000 were injured, more than 500 homes were completely demolished, and nearly 1,000 others were damaged. Property damage exceeded $50 million. Yet, these sobering figures do not begin to describe the human suffering from such a catastrophe.

During the thirtieth anniversary of the tragedy, the Marshall University Libraries decided to make this event its premier exhibit in its new Virtual Museum project. This project is designed to exhibit important events of local history, using resources in the University Libraries, particularly in Special Collections. These resources include textual materials, print images, audio recordings, and video resources, which are all designed to allow the viewer of the Virtual Museum to experience events in a new and exciting manner. Special Collections’ rich holdings concerning the Buffalo Creek Flood made this innovate exhibition possible.

The opening page of the exhibit is a map of Buffalo Creek. This is the jumping off point to the rest of exhibition. On the map each town has a “hot button,” which when pressed brings up some brief information on the town, such as the source of its name and the names of coal mines operating in the nearby. However, more importantly it also gives a list of those persons killed during the flood. These names are arranged into family groups, portraying the devastating effect of the killing waters on entire families.

But, this is just the beginning of the exhibit. From the opening page, viewers can also go to other exhibits. One page is a detailed chronology of the constructions of the three dams on Buffalo Creek. The interested reader can follow the events, year by year, leading to the situation that eventually resulted in the collapse of the dams in 1972.

Another page draws on excerpts from personal accounts of the flood, such as statements of survivors before government hearings. Other excerpts come from the depositions made in connection with the two court cases that were filed by the flood’s survivors. Special Collections is the repository of these important historical documents, which number in the hundreds. They are matchless and priceless records of this tragedy. In the coming months additional excerpts from these depositions, as well as selected entire depositions, will be posted, enticing viewers to return to the page.

The exhibit provides the viewer with the official report of the Governors Ad Hoc Commission of Inquiry into the flood. This180-page report includes a historical summary of the event, summation of reports, and expert analysis of the dam’s failure, as well as recommendations to prevent a similar flood in the future. It is illustrated with a number of excellent photographs, maps and charts. The viewer will be able to read or print out a copy of this little seen, but highly important historical document.

Finally, one of the main highlights of the exhibit is the page devoted to video images. These were taken by news crews from WSAZ-TV, who arrived at Buffalo Creek shortly after the flood to report and record its aftermath for their television viewers. The exhibit provides selections from film footage, drawn from collections of the station’s news film in the Special Collections at Marshall University and in the West Virgimia Archives. These compelling images of persons, places and activities have not been seen since the event. These images can now be seen and experienced by the viewer to the Virtual Museum.

The exhibit’s URL or address is: http://www.marshall.edu/library/speccoll/virtual_museum/buffalo_creek/html/default.asp.
The Buffalo Creek Flood exhibit is only the beginning of Marshall University’s Virtual Museum project. In the coming months, exhibits will be opened concerning the effects of the 1937 Flood on Huntington, West Virginia. For Marshall University alumni an exhibit will be developed giving a visual history of the university most identifiable structure, Old Main.

All are invited to the Virtual Museum—Come, learn, enjoy and gain an appreciation for the history of West Virginia.