Dates That Matter

April 18, 1906

San Francisco is rocked by a violent earthquake.

The earthquake that shook San Francisco in 1906 was one of the most powerful and destructive in history. Today's Richter scale for measuring earthquake intensity was not in use in 1906, but some estimate the quake would have measured 8.3. The first quake (there would be more than 25 in all) came at dawn: 5:15 a.m. Not only was there damage caused by the earthquake itself, but fires soon broke out across the city due to ruptured natural gas lines and caused additional devastation. It is estimated that more than 3,000 people died, and about a quarter of a million were injured. Property damage was $400 million (in 1906 dollars!).

For more information...

Introduction--The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire
This site contains a number of wonderful photographs that clearly illustrate the power of the earthquake. They have also created a 360 degree view of the city by pulling together a group of photos all taken from one vantage point.

Faultline
This site looks at earthquakes in general and has some wonderful visuals. You can get a real-time map of earthquakes in the U.S. over the past seven days. Then, click on the link to the 1906 San Francisco earthquake for more specific information.