New Book Reflects on Washington's Historic Snowstorm

Dec. 17, 2012 - PRLog -- The newest addition to Arcadia Publishing’s popular Images of America series is The Knickerbocker Snowstorm from local author Kevin Ambrose. The book takes a look back through more than 200 vintage images, telling the story of the most well-known and often-discussed historic weather event in Washington, DC.

On the evening of January 28, 1922, several hundred people fought their way through the greatest snowstorm in Washington’s history to see a show at the Knickerbocker Theater, the city’s largest and most modern moving picture theater of the time. Unbeknownst to the theater patrons, the Knickerbocker Theater’s flat roof was tremendously burdened by the weight of the snow.

During the show’s intermission, the snow-covered roof crashed down upon the crowd. As the roof fell, it collapsed the theater’s balcony and pulled down portions of the surrounding brick walls, killing 98 people and injuring 133. Some of Washington’s prominent politicians and business owners were among the casualties. The disaster ranks as one of Washington’s worst in history, and the snowstorm continues to hold the record for Washington’s single greatest snowfall.

Join the Author for a Book Signing!

When: Saturday, January 26, 2013 from 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Where: Barnes & Noble, 4801 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, MD 20814

When: Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Where: Audubon Naturalist Society, 8940 Jones Mill Rd.,
Chevy Chase, MD 20815

When: Saturday, February 16, 2013 from 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Where: Books-A-Million, 11 Dupont Circle N.W., Washington, DC 20036

Kevin Ambrose, a Washington-area writer and photographer, has authored several weather books and currently writes and photographs for the Washington Post Capital Weather Gang blog. He is also an active storm chaser in the Washington area.

Available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at www.arcadiapublishing.com or
(888)-313-2665.  

Arcadia Publishing is the leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States.  Our mission is to make history accessible and meaningful through the publication of books on the heritage of America’s people and places.  Have we done a book on your town?  Visit www.arcadiapublishing.com.