Editing Blackwell, Oklahoma (section)

===1955 F5 tornado===
{{Main|1955 Great Plains tornado outbreak#Blackwell, Oklahoma}}
Blackwell was a victim of the [[1955 Great Plains tornado outbreak]], a deadly [[tornado outbreak]] that struck the southern and central [[contiguous United States|U.S]] [[Great Plains]] States on May&nbsp;25–26, 1955. It produced at least 46 tornadoes across seven states including two F5 tornadoes in Blackwell, Oklahoma, and [[Udall, Kansas]]. The outbreak killed 102 from three tornadoes while injuring hundreds more. Unusual [[Electromagnetism|electromagnetic]] activity was observed, including [[St. Elmo's fire]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.weather.gov/oun/events-19550525 | title=The Great Plains Tornado Outbreak and Blackwell Tornado of 25-26 May 1955 }}</ref>

The Blackwell tornado formed in [[Noble County, Oklahoma|Noble County]] at around 9:00{{nbsp}}pm CDT before crossing through the eastern portions of the [[Kay County, Oklahoma|Kay County]] town of Blackwell as an [[List of F5 and EF5 tornadoes|F5]] [[wedge tornado]]. Then about {{convert|400|yd|mi|abbr=on}} wide (Grazulis 1991), It claimed the lives of 20 people in Blackwell and injured over 200 before crossing into and dissipating over [[Cowley County, Kansas]]. Along with destroying nearly 200 homes,<ref name="Grazulis">{{cite book | last = Grazulis | first = Thomas P | title = Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991 |date=July 1993 | publisher = The Tornado Project of Environmental Films | location = St. Johnsbury, VT | isbn = 1-879362-03-1 }}</ref> the tornado demolished two of the town's main employers, the Acme Foundry and the Hazel Atlas Glass plant. Four hundred homes were destroyed or swept away, and 500 other homes were damaged.<ref name="Grazulis"/> Sixty businesses were also destroyed and the local [[hospital]] sustained major damage. Most of the western half of the town was spared the worst of the damage.<ref name="Grazulis"/>

To commemorate the 1955 tornado, the Top of Oklahoma Historical Society Museum housed in the 1912 Electric Park Pavilion in Blackwell put on a special exhibition "F5 in 1955" which included a  ‘tornado room’ which displayed artifacts, information, and photographs of the event. Over a year in the making, the exhibit occupied an entire room and was made possible with financial support from the city of Blackwell. “Working with the wonderful people at the Top of Oklahoma Museum and the Udall Historical Society was the best part of the creation of the “F5 in 1955” exhibit," said Dianne Braden, tornado survivor. "To commemorate the event and the loss of 107 people was important to all of us. There’s something for every age in the exhibit.”<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.poncacitynews.com/news/exhibit-opens-1955-tornado-blackwell|title=Exhibit opens on 1955 tornado in Blackwell|date=August 8, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oml.org/municipal-messenger/2020/2/18/city-of-blackwell-invests-in-its-history-restoring-the-top-of-oklahoma-historical-society-museum|title=City of Blackwell invests in its history by restoring the Top of Oklahoma Historical Society Museum|date=February 18, 2020|website=Oklahoma Municipal League}}</ref>

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1955 F5 Blackwell and Udall tornado tracks.gif|1955 tornado tracks map
Blackwelldamage.gif|1955 tornado destruction map of Blackwell
Tornado damage. Blackwell, Oklahoma - NARA - 283884.jpg|1955 tornado damage of Blackwell
</gallery>