What Was Bradstreet's Disaster?

Venue Reviews  |  Posted by: Tedd Long  |  10/14/2021

Have you ever heard of Bradstreet's Disaster? It's a little-known story and yet one of the most notable events in the pre-settlement history of Cleveland. Now, through a unique micro-exhibit at the National Museum of the Great Lakes (NMGL), you can explore relics from this story.

In October 1764, British Colonel John Bradstreet returned to Fort Niagara after being sent west earlier in the summer as part of an assault to put down Pontiac's Rebellion. On their way from an extended stay in Sandusky, Bradstreet's party found the otherwise safe shelter of Rocky River too treacherous for their 46-foot long Bateaux to navigate because of darkness. So instead, on October 18, under a moonless sky, they rowed their 60 boats and nine canoes, laden with 1,500 troops, to a swale near what is now Bradstreet's Landing in Rocky River Park. Unfortunately, when an unexpected wave suddenly struck, Bradstreet's small fleet was inundated by high water. Three days were required for repair before further travel could be undertaken, and the shortage of boats required a portion of the party to proceed overland.

Today, reminders of Bradstreet's Disaster continue to be discovered on the south coast of Lake Erie, and many of them are included in the NMGL's micro-exhibit, including a swivel gun found slightly offshore in 1968.

The "Bradstreet's Disaster" micro-exhibit is included with the price of general admission and is scheduled to stay up through the Winter of 2022. The museum is also hosting a presentation at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, November 10, to further explore the historical context around Bradstreet's Disaster, the making of the micro-exhibit, and the archaeological finds from Rocky River. For more information on the exhibit, museum admission and operating hours, visit nmgl.org.