March 12 marks the 89th anniversary for the start of one of the worst disasters in California history.

From a previous story: St. Francis Dam Fails 87 Years Ago, Santa Clarita Historians Host Tour

The construction of the dam began in August of 1924 and began to fill with water on March 1, 1928, according to SCVHistory.

A little more than two-and-a-half minutes before midnight on March 12, 1928, the dam failed.

The wall of water, 55 feet taller than the original Colossus’ tallest hill at Six Flags Magic Mountain, crashed through San Francisquito Canyon and reached the Pacific Ocean just south of Ventura.

It took the immense wave five-and-a-half hours to reach the ocean.
An estimated 431 people were killed.

The failure of the St. Francis Dam is known as the second-worst disaster in California history, coming behind the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and subsequent fires, and America’s worst civil engineering failure of the 20th century, according to SCVHistory.

Last July, Senator Steve Knight then serving as a Congressman fought to finally get a memorial built for all of those lost in the 1928 disaster.

From a previous story: Knight St. Francis Dam Disaster Memorial Bill Passes House

“This memorial site is important for the people of the Santa Clarita Valley and I am proud to be part of the effort to educate the public and honor the individuals who perished in the St. Francis Dam Disaster,” Knight said.

In May 2016, Knight testified in the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands about the need to memorialize the victims of the disaster.

He was joined in the hearing by Dr. Alan Pollack, president of the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society, who detailed the dam’s history, beginning with its flawed design and construction and ending with its abrupt and devastating collapse.

The bill then passed the Natural Resources Committee with unanimous support.

“This legislation is long overdue. The victims of the St. Francis Dam Disaster deserve to be memorialized, and that’s exactly why we are here today,” said Rep. Knight. “I am pleased that my colleagues in the House recognize the importance of honoring the individuals who perished in the St. Francis Dam Disaster.”