On this day in 1978, Congressman Leo Ryan and five others arrived in Jonestown, Guyana. The next day, he, his fellow travelers, and 909 others died. It was the largest loss of American civilian life until 9/11.

Congressman Ryan was visiting the Jonestown settlement at the behest of family members of and concerned former members of the Peoples Temple, a cult lead by the charismatic Jim Jones.

You can learn more about the Jonestown massacre from the recollections of Richard Dwyer, who survived the massacre, at the link.