January
Aug 21 SI Meteorological Project Volunteers Track Tornado
Year:
1857
Month:
august
Day:
21
Date:
Fri, 1857-08-21
SIA Image reference:
A tornado passes through the counties of Columbia, Dodge and Washington in Wisconsin on August 21, 1857. The tornado was observed and tracked by A. Lapham of Milwaukee, a volunteer for the Smithsonian's Meteorological Project. The Smithsonian Meteorological Project, begun by first Smithsonian Secretary Joseph Henry, uses a countrywide network of volunteer observers to record climate information and send it to the Smithsonian via the growing telegraph network. The project existed from 1846-1870 and led to the founding of the National Weather Service.