Scene 11
The Tornado of 1844; Destruction of Indian Settlements; Horrid Loss of LifeDark, turbulent clouds, broken branches flying through the air, and the despairing gestures of the figures struggling against powerful winds communicate the threatening power of the tornado that devastated Jackson County, Missouri, in 1844. In this scene, the artist includes an African American woman fleeing the storm, a Native American man clinging to the grass, and a European-American family huddled down against the onslaught, demonstrating that the destruction affected all those residing in the area.
