San Francisco Shakes: Earthquake and Fire Devastate the City
The San Francisco earthquake struck at 5:12 AM on April 18, 1906, with an estimated magnitude of 7.9, rupturing the San Andreas Fault for 296 miles. The earthquake itself caused significant damage, but the subsequent fires, burning for three days, destroyed 80% of the city. Broken water mains left firefighters helpless. The Army dynamited buildings to create firebreaks, often starting new fires in the process. An estimated 3,000 people died and 225,000 of the city's 400,000 residents were left homeless. The disaster prompted the creation of modern building codes emphasizing seismic resistance. Ironically, San Francisco was rebuilt so quickly that it hosted the Panama-Pacific International Exposition just nine years later in 1915.
April 18, 1906
120 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on April 18
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April 18, 1506: Pope Julius II buried a heavy stone in the dirt while four thousand laborers sweated under Roman sun. They didn't know this single act would dra…
A Milanese princess walked into Kraków's cathedral clutching a trunk of oranges, saffron, and eggplants. She didn't just marry a king; she imported an entire Re…
A heavy cloak, worn for weeks on the road, barely hid Luther's trembling hands as he faced the Emperor. He stood in a room where silence could kill him, yet he …
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