Triumph over tragedy in 1947 Texas City explosion This Forgotten Day in Houston

We looked through our archives and elsewhere to bring you this collection of photos from the scene. less On April 16, 1947, more than 2,000 tons of ammonium nitrate fertilizer ignited and detonated aboard a vessel in the Port of Texas City. We looked through our archives and elsewhere to bring you this collection ... more On April 16, 1947, more than 2,000 tons of ammonium nitrate fertilizer ignited and detonated aboard a vessel in the Port of Texas City. Photo: Jerry Maze, HP Staff Photo: Jerry Maze, HP Staff Image 1 of / 74 Caption Close Triumph over tragedy in 1947 Texas City explosion 1 / 74 Back to Gallery

April 16, 1947: On this day, the Grandcamp, a ship which had previously been docked in Houston, was now docked in Texas City where it was being loaded with ammonium nitrate fertilizer. A fire broke out in the ship's cargo hold and continued to grow despite efforts to extinguish the flames. Then, catastrophe. At 9:12 am, the ship exploded.

RELATED: Newly discovered photos show extent of destruction

The massive explosion leveled buildings nearby and even shattered windows in Houston, some forty miles away. In Denver, Colorado, over 900 miles away, a seismograph registered the explosion as if it were an earthquake. A second ship, the High Flyer, caught fire, and fifteen hours after the first devastating blast, there was another.

In addition to over three thousand injured, it is estimated that between 500 and 600 people perished in the blasts. Support for Texas City came swiftly. Police, fire, and medical personnel raced in from neighboring communities, and celebrities such as Frank Sinatra and Jack Benny participated in fund raising ceremonies, bringing in thousands of dollars for the recovery effort.

Do you have a story of triumph-over-tragedy from the Texas City disaster you'd like to share? Let us know in the comments below or tweet our host, Michael Callahan, @MCallahanTV using #ForgottenDayHOU, and he'll tweet you back.