(Credit: Independence Seaport Museum)

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — For the millions of people in the area, the Delaware River is life–a source of water, a source of commerce–but it’s also been a source of disaster.

Like the explosion on the British frigate that was on it’s way to Philadelphia to attack the city.

“It blew up…the powder stores on the ship blew up, and you could hear the explosion 16 miles away,” says Craig Bruns, curator of the Independence Seaport Museum, where a dramatic new exhibit, “Disaster on the Delaware,” is starting.

Bruns says that you can see newspaper accounts of some of the deadly accidents in the 1800′s.

“It’s really great to read, but at the same time, you’re reading this wonderful thing, great thing, and then it’s about people dying,” he explains.

“Disaster on the Delaware” starts on September 6th at the Independence Seaport Museum.