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See photos from the day a town was leveled by the deadliest tornado in Kansas history

Wichita Eagle archives
Damage caused by the tornado that struck Udall in 1955.
Damage caused by the tornado that struck Udall in 1955. Udall Historical Museum Courtesy of Udall Historical Museum

On this day, on May 25, 1955, the town of Udall in Cowley County was devastated by an F5 tornado, the deadliest in Kansas history.

Here are historical photos from The Eagle’s archives that show the aftermath:

Udall Historical Museum Courtesy
Damage caused by the tornado that struck Udall, Kansas in 1955.
Damage caused by the tornado that struck Udall, Kansas in 1955. Courtesy
Damage caused by the tornado that struck Udall, Kansas in 1955.
Damage caused by the tornado that struck Udall, Kansas in 1955. Courtesy
Damage caused by the tornado that struck Udall, Kansas in 1955.
Damage caused by the tornado that struck Udall, Kansas in 1955. Courtesy
Damage caused by the tornado that struck Udall, Kansas in 1955.
Damage caused by the tornado that struck Udall, Kansas in 1955. Courtesy
Udall Historical Museum Courtesy
Damage caused by the tornado that struck Udall, Kansas in 1955.
Damage caused by the tornado that struck Udall, Kansas in 1955. Courtesy

Link to more Udall photos

Charlie Rollins was a 25-year-old photographer for The Wichita Eagle in 1955 when a tornado killed 77 people on the night of May 25. Rollins took award-winning photos of the rescue efforts in Udall about an hour after the town was destroyed by the F5 tornado.
Charlie Rollins was a 25-year-old photographer for The Wichita Eagle in 1955 when a tornado killed 77 people on the night of May 25. Rollins took award-winning photos of the rescue efforts in Udall about an hour after the town was destroyed by the F5 tornado. Travis Heying The Wichita Eagle

This story was originally published May 25, 2023 at 10:11 AM.

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