TORNADO PHOTOS PAGE
1884-1979
By the Kansas Tornado Chasers Page

Anderson County,Ks. April 23, 1884. Photo taken by A. A. Adams.
A. A. Adams operated a gallery in Westphalia, took this photo of the storm from a downtown street corner as the tornado passed just northwest of the town. He later sold many copies of the image around the country.
The same tornado lifted David Metheney from his wagon as he drove home. The twister carried Metheney a distance before dropping him and causing severe internal injuries. His wagon and full load of lumber were destroyed; the horses were carried about sixty feet.
Credit to Kansas State Historical Society.

Norton, Ks. June 25, 1909. Photo taken by Will Keller.
Will Keller made sure his family was safe in the cellar before he took another look at the approaching storm. He saw three tornadoes hanging overhead; Keller caught an eyeful that day . His experience on June 22, 1928, provides one of the best eyewitness accounts of a Kansas tornado.
"Everything was still as death," Keller said. "There was a strong gassy odor, and I could hardly breathe." A screaming and hissing sound emanated from funnel's tail. A circular opening at the center appeared to be as large as one hundred feet in diameter. He estimated the height at one-half mile. "The walls of this opening were rotating clouds," Keller recalled, "and the hole was brilliantly lighted with the constant flashes of lightning which zigzagged from side to side."
Credit to Kansas State Historical Society.

  Abilene, Ks.  May 14, 1913. Credit to Wichita State University Special Collections and University Archives

Hardtner,Ks. June 2, 1929. Photo © 1997 Kansas State Historical Society.
A classic cyclone was captured on film (left) as it struck the town of Hardtner. Folks remembered a light shower that fell mid-afternoon on Sunday, June 2, 1929. The mist made way for a giant tornado that twisted a combine beyond recognition and burned the beards off wheat.
Credit to Kansas State Historical Society.

Spring Hill, Ks. May 20th, 1957.  Photo by Rev. Robert Alexander. For more information on this tornado CLICK HERE.

NEW

Topeka, Ks. June 8, 1966

  Pomona Lake, Ks 1978.  Photo by George T. Sayers, P. O. Box 283, Pomona, Ks. 66076