Eastland Documentary
Non GEM EVENT
Sunday, July 23, 2023  7:00 PM

Passengers packed aboard a Great Lakes excursion steamer never suspected that the SS Eastland had a dark past. But others knew and the tragedy that would kill 844 became Chicago’s shameful secret.

EASTLAND combines story lines of immigrant exploitation, greed, corruption, a cover-up, and hundreds of casualties in one of America’s worst maritime tragedies.  In addition, it features rare, previously censored newsreel footage.  

“Stunningly effective and shockingly memorable…with real-life characters worthy of a big-budget feature film.”–Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times

 “One of the most compelling and electrifying documentaries I’ve ever seen. A brilliant film…extraordinary and haunting.”– Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune/WGN Radio

EASTLAND: CHICAGO’S DEADLIEST DAY, is exclusively funded by The Chicago Marine Heritage Society and its chairman, Captain Dave Truitt.

Eastland’ has it all: heroes, villains, corruption, legal shenanigans, carnage, teenage adventurers, greed, humor, injustice, and even romance. This is history at its most vivid, bringing a forgotten and tragic moment of Chicago’s past roaring back to life.

Admission by donation.