The Butler County History Center is taking a look back at 1958. The exhibit, “Two Minutes of Terror,” opens today at the museum.

It is the museum staff’s hope that people don’t forget those events that affected so many on June 10, 1958.

“About a week after the tornado there was an article in the El Dorado Times called ‘Driftwood’ and it said that they hope history does not forget about this event, but if it does the writer hopes the future generation doesn’t have to relive it,” said Lisa Cooley, museum education curator.

The exhibit consists of a variety of information, including photos, memorabilia and person accounts.

Cooley said they had a favorable response to their request for photos and oral and written histories.

“The exhibit at first talks more about the science of tornados and why they occur here,” she said.

Then it narrows its focus to Kansas tornadoes and El Dorado tornadoes, before focusing on the tornado of 1958.

“Half of the exhibit is about the devastation, recovery and assistance,” she said.
It also includes a 1957 map of El Dorado along with an ariel photo of the damaged area just a year later.

They also have footage of the damage from KAKE Channel 10.

Thirteen people lost their lives and over 80 people sustained injuries as the tornado tore a 350-yard swath through the Graham Addition in southwest El Dorado. It tracked to the southeast instead of the normal northeasterly course, thereby earning the nickname “Wrong-Way Tornado.”

“It’s been interesting, not being from here, just the community support back then and doing the interviews,” she said. “It was quite emotional.”

The exhibit will run through Oct. 4 at the museum, located at 383 E. Central. It is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

In addition to the exhibit, at 5:30 p.m. June 10 members of the El Dorado Rotary Club will dedicate a memorial to the 13 victims who lost their lives in the tornado. The memorial was built with funds raised by the club, and will feature 13 pillars and a wind harp which will capture the wind’s soft melody.

At 5:45 p.m., the precise moment that the twister struck 50 years ago, the tornado sirens in town will be sounded to commemorate the historic event. The memorial will be a permanent fixture at Graham Park, 1600 Edgemoor.

Special guests at the memorial dedication will be surviving family members and friends of those who were killed that day. A community-wide reception will be held following the ceremony.