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Jim Jones
Jim Jones establishes the first People's Temple in Indianapolis as a Pentecostal congregation. -
Ukiah, California
The People's Temple grows in popularity and moves its headquarters to Ukiah, California in the 1960s. -
Social activism
The People's Temple becomes increasingly involved in social activism, promoting racial and social equality, and setting up various programs to help the poor and elderly in the 1970s. -
Jonestown
The People's Temple moves its headquarters to Jonestown, a settlement in Guyana, South America. -
Jonestown Massacre
Tragedy strikes when over 900 members of the People's Temple, including children, commit mass suicide by drinking a cyanide-laced drink. This event is commonly referred to as the Jonestown Massacre. -
Disbanded
The People's Temple is disbanded after the Jonestown Massacre, and several investigations are launched into the events leading up to it in the 1980s-1990s. -
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Renewed interest
Several documentaries, books, and TV shows are released about the People's Temple and the Jonestown Massacre, leading to renewed interest in the group in the 2000s-2010s. -
Continues
The People's Temple continues to be a subject of fascination and study, with researchers and scholars examining the factors that led to the tragic events at Jonestown. The group's legacy continues to be debated, with some seeing it as a cautionary tale about the dangers of cults and others highlighting its positive contributions to social justice causes.