1980 tornado

The 1980 Kalamazoo Tornado

Forty years ago on May 13, 1980 a tornado bore down on Kalamazoo. In just 16 short minutes, the tornado left an 11-mile path of destruction, killing 5 people, seriously injuring 79, and causing over $50 million in damage.  

The tornado touched down at 4:09 p.m. near the western edge of the city limits, striking the neighborhoods along the West Main corridor. After tearing through Mountain Home Cemetery, the twister leapt to the bottom of West Main Hill, plowing into the Saint Augustine Cathedral. In Bronson Park, over two dozen trees that had stood for over 150 years were uprooted or damaged.  

Kalamazoo’s pedestrian mall and its surrounding buildings were next along the path of destruction. The six-story Gilmore Department Store building suffered extensive roof damage, and its east wall collapsed outward, piling massive amounts of rubble into Farmer’s Alley below. The tornado damaged several additional structures as it traveled towards Comstock Township, dissipating at 4:25 p.m. just northwest of downtown. 

As we look back on the Kalamazoo tornado, the resilience of the city and the positivity of its inhabitants were paramount in the aftermath of disaster. “I Survived the Kalamazoo Tornado—Let’s Rebuild!” t-shirts were produced and words of encouragement were hand painted on wooden boards exclaiming, “It’ll Take More Than a Wind to do Kalamazoo In” and “Yes, there STILL is a Kalamazoo!”

To read more and hear real testimonials visit: 

https://www.1980kalamazootornado.org/

 

Kalamazoo Direct to You - Highlights
  1. Checker Cab
  2. Smelting Pot
  3. Gibson Guitars
  4. Homer Stryker and his Revolutionary Bed
  5. Upjohn's Pills
  6. A. M. Todd
  7. People of the Three Fires
  8. The General Store
  9. New Settlers to Kalamazoo: The Importance of the General Store
  10. Something for Everyone at the General Store
  11. The Finer Things in Life: Saving for the General Store
  12. Hub of Information: The General Store
  13. 1848 General Store Ledger
  14. Farm Life 1860-1940
  15. Entertainment 1860-1920
  16. "Wash Day"
  17. Food Preparation 1870-1930
  18. Squirrel Tailed Pumper
  19. The Kalamazoo Mall
  20. Victor Gruen: The Man with a Plan
  21. Dreams We Shared
  22. The 1980 Kalamazoo Tornado
  23. Lincoln's Speech
  24. Mystery of the Mummy