(Credit: California Historical Society) Looking Down Sacramento St. at the results of the earth quake and the beginning of the fire.

April 18, 1906:

An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.9 struck San Francisco, CA. Violent shocks lasted approximately 40-60 seconds and was felt from southern Oregon to the south of Los Angeles and inland as far as Central Nevada. Fires that resulted from broken gas mains raged for three days, and the pipeline carrying water to the city was severed.—(USGS)

Impact:

• Approximately 3,000 fatalities
• Estimated Damage Costs: >$400 million (1906) (approx. 10.4 trillion today)

Related Resources:

• HSDL Featured Topic: Earthquakes
• Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake
• When the Big One Strikes Again: Estimated Losses Due to a Repeat of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake
• HSDL search results for: 1906 San Francisco Earthquake