Rare 1913 Hamilton, Ohio Flood Postcards — Real Photo Views of One of America’s Deadliest Natural Disasters
A compelling pair of real photo postcards (RPPCs) documenting the devastating 1913 flood in Hamilton, Ohio, produced shortly after the event. While the publisher is unmarked, the reverse features an eagle-header divided back design consistent with postcards issued by regional printers such as Feicke-Desch of Cincinnati.
These striking images capture the destruction along South B Street and the Columbia Carriage Works, where the Great Miami River overflowed following days of relentless rainfall. Together, the cards form a powerful visual record of a city in crisis—preserving scenes of collapsed structures, washed-out streets, and the immediate aftermath of one of the region’s most catastrophic floods.
Collector’s Note
Early 20th-century disaster postcards were more than souvenirs—they were a primary means of visual news distribution. Produced in the immediate aftermath of the Great Flood of 1913, sets like this documented unfolding events and circulated widely across the country.
Examples from the same photographic series—especially when kept together—are increasingly difficult to assemble. As a matched pair, these postcards offer collectors a focused and authentic glimpse into a defining American disaster, combining historical significance with strong visual impact.
Subtle blue-tinted skies appear across both cards, a period enhancement applied to otherwise monochrome photographic prints. Both remain unposted, preserving their original function as documentary images rather than mailed correspondence.
Condition across the set is consistent: light edge wear, age toning, and faint reverse printing, all typical for early real photo postcards of this period.
Each postcard is housed in a protective sleeve and sold individually within this curated variant listing. The image displayed updates to reflect your selected view.
Columbia Carriage Works
Columbia Carriage Works Hamilton, Ohio Flood
Depicts the destruction of the carriage works and surrounding structures, with debris scattered across the site and evidence of early cleanup efforts underway.
South B Street
South B Street from Main. Flood at Hamilton, Ohio
Shows the ruins of residential structures and severe roadway collapse, illustrating the force of floodwaters as entire sections of the street were washed away.
Historical Note
In March 1913, a series of powerful storm systems brought unprecedented rainfall across the Midwest and eastern United States. In Hamilton, Ohio, an estimated 9 to 11 inches of rain fell within three days, overwhelming the Great Miami River and its tributaries.
By the early morning hours of March 25, floodwaters had destroyed all four of the city’s bridges. Entire neighborhoods were submerged, more than 300 buildings were destroyed, and over 200 lives were lost in Hamilton alone. Regionally, the disaster claimed an estimated 650 lives across multiple states and left hundreds of thousands homeless.
The 1913 flood remains one of the most significant natural disasters in Ohio history and led directly to the development of modern flood control systems across the Miami Valley.
