David McCullough
2 SeriesDavid McCullough is an acclaimed American author of historical non-fiction. He has been awarded two Pulitzer Prizes and two National Book Awards. Additionally, he has received the National Book Foundation Distinguished Contribution to American Letters Award, the National Humanities Medal, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
David McCullough's "The Johnstown Flood" recounts the devastating event of May 31, 1889, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. A booming industrial town, Johnstown was overwhelmed by a catastrophic flood when a poorly maintained dam in the mountains above burst. The dam, hastily rebuilt to create a lake for a resort used by industrial tycoons like Andrew Carnegie, failed despite warnings. The resulting flood killed over 2,000 people and sparked a national scandal, highlighting the negligence of the wealthy elite.
