Black Tom explosion
1916 sabotage and munitions explosion in New York Harbor
About
The Black Tom explosion was an act of arson and sabotage by field agents of the Office of Naval Intelligence of the German Empire to destroy U.S.-made munitions awaiting shipment to the Allies during World War I. The explosions occurred on July 30, 1916, in New York Harbor, killing at least seven people and wounding hundreds more. It also caused damage to military goods worth some $20 million ($590 million in 2025 dollars). This incident, which happened before the United States entry into World War I, also damaged the Statue of Liberty. It is one of the largest artificial non-nuclear explosions in history.
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Jersey City, New Jersey
City in Hudson County, New Jersey, US
1.2 mi away
Ellis Island
Island in New York Harbor in the US
1.0 mi away
Statue of Liberty
Colossal sculpture in New York Harbor
0.6 mi away
Hudson River
River in New York and New Jersey, US
1.4 mi away
Liberty State Park
Park on Upper New York Bay in Jersey City, New Jersey
0.9 mi away
Liberty Island
Island in New York Harbor in the US
0.6 mi awayPlaces to eat nearby
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