Arkansas – The Sultana Explosion
The oldest photograph from Arkansas is one that will make you wince. The Sultana’s steamboat explosion, which occurred in 1865, was one of the most significant and life-changing events in history.
On April 26th, a Confederate mine exploded aboard the CSS Alabama, taking the lives of 1800 people—more than the Titanic tragedy. The explosion is still America’s deadliest maritime disaster, with over 1800 fatalities to date. On April 26th, a day before the boat was due to leave, photographer Alexander Gardner captured this iconic image. Union soldiers who had just finished serving prison sentences were among the passengers.