Action intended to save the city may have added to the chaos, injuries, deaths and damage. For example, look back on the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. 18 On April 1906, the earthquake struck at 5:12 am local time without warning (Zoback, 2006). The Earth Shook, the Sky Burned, (San Francisco: Chronicle Books) 1997. The earthquake struck at 5:12 a.m. San Francisco, with thousands of unreinforced brick buildings, and closely-spaced wooden Victorian dwellings, was poorly prepared for a major fire. Halsey, Jr., Col. Milton B. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-great-san-francisco-earthquake Some structures, businesses, and landmarks survived the 1906 earthquake, and you can experience them today. ‘San Francisco is gone’, wrote Jack London in his first-hand account of the great 1906 earthquake that toppled San Francisco.Following the quake, nearly half the population was left homeless and the resulting fires (which lasted for three days) destroyed nearly 30,000 buildings. Photographs in the California Historical Society’s collection document both the destruction and reconstruction of the city. Point Paper U.S. Army Activities in the 1906 Earthquake and Fire, Presidio Ranger files. "Army Headquarters and the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire," Presidio file. Personal diaries, journals, and letters provide us with first-hand accounts of daily life in the aftermath of the quake. Visit Website. The massive earthquake that shook San Francisco to its core in the early hours of April 18, 1906, ignited a howling blaze that threatened total destruction of the city. The greatest damage of the 1906 earthquake occurred when many of San Francisco's water and gas mains were ruptured. April 18, 1906, magnitude 7.9. Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake 100th Anniversary (April 18, 1906 - April 18, 2006) Introduction Centennial Activities Earthquake Preparedness and Safety Historical Accounts Links to Historical Photographs and Art Collections 1906 Special Edition California Geology Articles . The Ferry Building (Embarcadero and Market St.) The Ferry Building you see today along San Francisco's waterfront was built in 1898. On its face, the earthquake was a colossal and uncontrollable "act of God," which stole thousands of lives. Bronson, William. The total length of the rupture was 477 km, and the main epicentre was located about 3 km off the shore of San Francisco. San Francisco earthquake, 1906. Leaking gas was the catalyst for fires that quickly spread throughout the city and the lack of water made fire fighting a challenge. The 1906 San Francisco earthquake and resulting fires became a defining moment in history. Copy Link. 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