Johnstown Flood National Memorial commemorates the more than 2,200 people who died in the Johnstown Flood on May 31 , 1889 , caused by a break in the South Fork Dam , an earthen structure . The memorial is located at 733 Lake Road near South Fork , Pennsylvania , about 10 miles ( 16 km ) northeast of Johnstown . The memorial preserves the remains of the dam and portions of the former Lake Conemaugh bed , along with the farm of Elias Unger and the clubhouse of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club which owned the dam and reservoir . The United States Congress authorized the national memorial on August 31 , 1964
Johnstown Flood
Johnstown Flood
Johnstown Flood National Memorial