The South Dakota Tornado Outbreak of August 28, 1884

F. N. Robinson’s photograph of the tornado. Image from the South Dakota State Historical Society.

On August 28, 1884, a deadly localized tornado outbreak would unfold across portions of eastern South Dakota. One of these twisters would become the second earliest photographed in history. There are sharp discrepancies over which tornado that day was photographed, and there is no detailed summary of the event in its entirety. In this article, I attempt to solve both of these longstanding unknowns. Read this premium summary by becoming a member here!

Detailed Summary