The Circus Train Tragedy of 1918

2025-06-16

At its peak, the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus was one of the largest traveling shows in the country—until a tragic train wreck in 1918 brought it to a screeching halt. This story follows the rise of the American circus, the crash that claimed dozens of lives near Hammond, Indiana, and the haunting legacy of Showmen’s Rest, where many of the victims are buried. It’s a tale of spectacle, sorrow, and the circus community’s motto: the show must go on. Episode Sources: “The Great Circus Train Wreck of 1918: Tragedy on the Indian...

At its peak, the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus was one of the largest traveling shows in the country—until a tragic train wreck in 1918 brought it to a screeching halt. This story follows the rise of the American circus, the crash that claimed dozens of lives near Hammond, Indiana, and the haunting legacy of Showmen’s Rest, where many of the victims are buried. It’s a tale of spectacle, sorrow, and the circus community’s motto: the show must go on.

Episode Sources:

“The Great Circus Train Wreck of 1918: Tragedy on the Indiana Lakeshore” by Richard M. Lytle, Published by The History Press, 2010

“Hagenbeck Wallace Circus” from Circuses and Sideshows

“Ben Wallace” from Circuses and Sideshows

“William Cameron Coup” from Circuses and Sideshows

“The Hammond Train Wreck of 1918 Killed Scores of Circus Performers” by Lorraine Boissoneault, June 22, 2018, Smithsonian Magazine

“The 1918 Hagenbeck-Wallace Tragedy: Breakdown” by Korry Shepard, February 23, 2021, Medium

“The truths of the circus train crash of 1918 are more horrifying than myths” by Will Higgins, June 20, 2018, IndyStar

“The Deadliest Circus Train Wreck in History” by Paul Andrews, January 25, 2024, Lost In History

“The Haunting Legacy of Showmen’s Rest in Forest Park, IL” from Explore Oak Park and Beyond

“Welcome to the Showmen's League of America: Our History” from Showmen’s League of America website

“The First Zoo Part I: The Circus Myth” by Paul Sewick, January 14, 2012, Corktown History