One Of The Worst Disasters In U.S. History Happened Right Here In Missouri
One of the worst structural disasters in U.S. history happened right here in Missouri nearly 40 years ago. On July 17, 1981, two suspended walkways in the Hyatt Regency Hotel collapsed into the hotel’s lobby. Tragically, on that day a dance was being held in the lobby and 114 victims lost their lives while another 216 were left with injuries. It was known as the deadliest structural collapse in American history until the Twin Towers fell on Sept. 11th, 2001.
Nearly 40 years after the Hyatt Regency tragedy in Kansas City, the ill-fated hotel still stands but now bears the name of a different lodging chain.
It's hard to believe such a tragedy occurred in this beautiful lobby. Sadly, for those who lost loved ones that day the vision of the collapse still remains.
The lobby's multi-story atrium was one of the defining features of the 40-story hotel when it opened in 1980. Spanning the length of the lobby were four suspended metal and glass walking bridges, each weighing approximately 64,000 lbs.
Nearly 1,600 people were present in the lobby on the day the walkways collapsed.
The design of the walkway supports were barely adequate to hold the weight of the walkway itself and succumbed to the additional weight of 20 or so spectators. The flaw resulted in the collapse of the 4th floor walkway which was located directly above the walkway on the 2nd floor.
211 people died at the scene and the rescue efforts lasted over 14 hours. Removing the 60 plus tons of steel, concrete and glass required cranes, hydraulic jacks, and bulldozers. Ultimately, 29 survivors were pulled from the wreckage that day.
Today, the crossing only spans one level above the lobby. In addition, the walkway is now supported by several columns underneath.
In late 2015, the Skywalk Memorial Foundation unveiled the memorial that sits just a few steps from the hotel and prominently displays the names of those who lost their lives in the hotel that day.
Liz is a Missouri native with a B.A. in English from Mizzou and a M.A. in Non-Profit Administration from Lindenwood University. She works for a STL metro-area community college and enjoys writing, traveling, and indoor cycling. Her true passion is forcing her encyclopedic knowledge of Missouri facts on uninterested strangers from across the globe!
