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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

Houston’s devastating flood of 1935 led to the formation of the Harris County Flood Control District to mitigate future flooding damage. The Hill Country and much of North Texas experienced heavy rains in 1935. Houston’s bayous reached maximum capacity in December after receiving heavy runoff. Heavy rains fell on December 7, 1935, flooding the Houston bayous, resulting in five inches of rain in the downtown area and higher levels north of the city.

The Magnolia Bridge, built by the Magnolia Brewery in 1912, significantly aggravated downtown flooding. As a result of heavy rains in December 1935, Buffalo Bayou overflowed into downtown due to runoff water backing up behind the narrow base of the bridge. The flood waters thoroughly washed away some buildings, which reached eight feet deep on Milam Street. Before subsiding, the deluge reached the Heights. The flood knocked out every firewater pumping station in the area. Putting out the Yellow Cab company’s fire, the fire department drove trucks directly into flood waters and sacrificed the vehicles so they could pump water from the flood to put out the flames.

Flooding lasted until December 10 and caused historic damage. The central water station and its wells were inundated, resulting in a limited water supply for days and a risk of contamination. Downtown had almost no bridges. Capitol Avenue Bridge was flooded, typically forty feet above the water level. Firefighters could not fight fires because the Central Water Plant was out of commission. Yellow Cab Company firefighter used a pumper to suck up muddy flood waters to fight a fire. The flood waters reached the second story of the Sears-Roebuck store on Buffalo Drive and Lincoln Street. Buildings collapsed, and others were severely damaged. Twenty to forty percent of the downtown buildings sustained severe structural damage. Floodwaters destroyed the Magnolia Brewery, the city post office, the farmer’s market, the MK&T railroad, and city archives. Twenty-five blocks of Houston’s business district and 100 blocks of residential areas were flooded. The death toll was seven. Submerged docks, sediment and wreckage, clogged the ship channel and uprooted railroad tracks crippled the Port of Houston for months after the flood. Railcars were submerged in flooded railroad yards. Crates of food and clothing washed out of warehouses were fished out of the bayou by Houstonians. Fish were felt from the mezzanine of the Rice Hotel by residents. While recovering from a severe flood in 1929 that caused nearly $1.4 million in property damage, Houston suffered more than $2.5 million in losses in the 1935 flood.

Magnolia Bridge was condemned scathingly by the commission as the sole cause of the downtown Houston disaster. The state of Texas ordered an investigation into the cause of the flood’s severity. The Texas legislature passed a bill establishing the Harris County Flood Control District unanimously on April 23, 1937. During heavy rainfall, the district constructed reservoirs to hold excess runoff.

Here are some rare historical photos that depict the magnitude and devastation caused by the 1935 Houston Flood.

#1 From the Dec. 11, 1935, Houston Press.

From the Dec. 11, 1935, Houston Press.

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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#2 Flooded street in Downtown Houston, 1935

Flooded street in Downtown Houston, 1935

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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#3 Flooded street in Downtown Houston, 1935

Flooded street in Downtown Houston, 1935

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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#4 Flooded Congress Avenue, 1935

Flooded Congress Avenue, 1935

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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#5 Flooded street in Downtown Houston, 1935

Flooded street in Downtown Houston, 1935

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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#6 Firefighters on flooded street, 1935

Firefighters on flooded street, 1935

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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#7 Firefighters spraying water onto building fire, 1935

Firefighters spraying water onto building fire, 1935

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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#8 Flooded street in Downtown Houston, 1935

Flooded street in Downtown Houston, 1935

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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#9 Flooded street in Downtown Houston, 1935

Flooded street in Downtown Houston, 1935

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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#10 Flooded street in Downtown Houston, 1935

Flooded street in Downtown Houston, 1935

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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#11 Flooded street, 1935

Flooded street, 1935

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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#12 Flood on Franklin Avenue,December 9, 1935

Flood on Franklin Avenue,December 9, 1935

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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#13 Flood on Franklin Avenue,December 9, 1935

Flood on Franklin Avenue,December 9, 1935

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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#14 Downtown Houston after Buffalo Bayou flooding, 1935

Downtown Houston after Buffalo Bayou flooding, 1935

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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#15 Produce Row, December 1935.

Produce Row, December 1935.

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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#16 Looking north on Louisiana toward Texas Avenue, December 1935.

Looking north on Louisiana toward Texas Avenue, December 1935.

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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#17 View down Congress toward the Southern Pacific Station, later site of downtown post office, December 1935.

View down Congress toward the Southern Pacific Station, later site of downtown post office, December 1935.

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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#18 Milam Street, looking east, December 1935.

Milam Street, looking east, December 1935.

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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#19 Buffalo Bayou, December 1935.

Buffalo Bayou, December 1935.

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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#20 Milam at Congress, looking north, December 1935.

Milam at Congress, looking north, December 1935.

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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#21 Louisiana between Rusk and Texas, looking northwest. Site of Jones Plaza today, December 1935.

Louisiana between Rusk and Texas, looking northwest. Site of Jones Plaza today, December 1935.

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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#22 View toward the San Jacinto Street Bridge, looking east.

View toward the San Jacinto Street Bridge, looking east.

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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#23 Texas Avenue, looking west from Milam. Old City Auditorium is on the left, December 1935.

Texas Avenue, looking west from Milam. Old City Auditorium is on the left, December 1935.

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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#24 Looking east over downtown, December 1935. White building at foreground is the criminal courthouse, where the back of Bayou Place is today. Structure at right-center is the farmer’s market, where Wortham Center is today.

Looking east over downtown, December 1935. White building at foreground is the criminal courthouse, where the back of Bayou Place is today. Structure at right-center is the farmer's market, where Wortham Center is today.

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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#25 Houston’s bayous rose 52 feet above normal levels following heavy rains that lasted from December 6–9, 1935.

Houston’s bayous rose 52 feet above normal levels following heavy rains that lasted from December 6–9, 1935.

The resulting floods damaged nearly 40 percent of downtown structures beyond repair, including the post office, the farmers market, and nearly all of the bridges. Meanwhile, two-thirds of rural Harris County was left underwater. This catastrophic event prompted the construction of the Addicks and Barker Dams, which helped to prevent the bayous from flooding downstream—and downtown.

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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#26 Waters from the 1935 event even reached into the Heights, flooding Harvard Street and turning the Harvard Food Market at the corner of 9th into a temporary island.

Waters from the 1935 event even reached into the Heights, flooding Harvard Street and turning the Harvard Food Market at the corner of 9th into a temporary island.

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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#27 Hurricane Carla Comes Ashore

Hurricane Carla Comes Ashore

LIFE magazine photographer Flip Schulke captured a dramatic moment at Murdoch’s seaside bath house in Galveston after Hurricane Carla made landfall. Though it’s been destroyed several times by various storms, Murdoch’s has always rebuilt—and remains in operation today as a gift shop.

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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#28 The Houston Fire Department lost eight trucks in the 1935 flood, many of which were attempting to put out the blaze at the Yellow Cab Company on Louisiana Street.

The Houston Fire Department lost eight trucks in the 1935 flood, many of which were attempting to put out the blaze at the Yellow Cab Company on Louisiana Street.

The city’s pumping station was unable to supply water for days following the flood, which meant the entire city was vulnerable to fires.

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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#29 An estimated 20,000 Houstonians turned out to watch the HFD battle the blaze at the Yellow Cab Company in 1935; four trucks flooded out trying to draught water from the streets to fight the fire.

An estimated 20,000 Houstonians turned out to watch the HFD battle the blaze at the Yellow Cab Company in 1935; four trucks flooded out trying to draught water from the streets to fight the fire.

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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#30 The intersection of Milam and Congress became a white-water rapid in the aftermath of the 1935 flood.

The intersection of Milam and Congress became a white-water rapid in the aftermath of the 1935 flood.

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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#31 No Part of the City Has Seen More Drama than Downtown.

No Part of the City Has Seen More Drama than Downtown.

February 12, 1960 brought 4.4 inches of snow to Houston—just in time for the annual Houston Fat Stock Show, which was officially renamed the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo the following year.

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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#32 No Part of the City Has Seen More Drama than Downtown.

No Part of the City Has Seen More Drama than Downtown.

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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#33 Recovery Efforts

Recovery Efforts

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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#34 A house on Avenue N lies on its side following the Hurricane in Galveston.

A house on Avenue N lies on its side following the Hurricane in Galveston.

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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#35 A terrified dog is rescued from the debris left by Hurricane Carla.

A terrified dog is rescued from the debris left by Hurricane Carla.

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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#36 Thousands of Houstonians left homeless by Carla took shelter in school auditoriums across the city.

Thousands of Houstonians left homeless by Carla took shelter in school auditoriums across the city.

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Houston Flood of 1935: Historical Photos depict the Magnitude and Devastation

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