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The Great San Francisco Earthquake

Photo Courtesy of the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

Image of San Francisco

The great 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire destroyed most of the city and left 250,000 people homeless. This full panorama of San Francisco, California, was taken July 29, 1904, less than two years before the Great Earthquake of 1906 on April 18. Click to enlarge.
Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer--Signal Corps Photographs of American Military Activity

Post-Earthquake

This full panorama of San Francisco, California, was taken April 18, 1906, within hours of the San Francisco Earthquake. Click to enlarge.
Photo Courtesy of USGS

Disbelief

A man looks on in disbelief at the devastation around him, at the sunken area on Market Street near Ferry building. April 20, 1906. Click to enlarge.
Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer--Signal Corps Photographs of American Military Activity

Force of Nature

Most buildings in San Francisco were severely damaged or lay in ruins. Click to enlarge.
Photo Courtesy of USGS

Swallowed in the Ground

The intensity of the earthquake sent the Agassiz statue, at Stanford University smashing head-first into the ground. Click to enlarge.
Photo Courtesy of USGS

Torn Apart

This is what remained of the Hibernia bank building. Click to enlarge.
Photo Courtesy of USGS

In Ruins

After disaster struck, this is what remained of the earthquake-wrecked City Hall building. Click to enlarge.
Photo Courtesy of USGS

Ground Shift

After the earthquake, deep secondary cracks filled the land on Bluxom Street near Sixth Street. View is west. Click to enlarge.
Photo Courtesy of USGS

Near Collapse

This photo was taken from the east side of Howard Street near 17th Street, shortly after the earthquake struck. All houses shifted toward the left. The tall house dropped from its south foundation wall and leaned against its neighbor. Click to enlarge.
Photo Courtesy of USGS

All that Remains

Nothing remains except the Donahue Monument, on Bush and Battery Streets, after the earthquake. The photo was taken April 20, 1906. Click to enlarge.
Photo Courtesy of USGS

Unstable Ground

Street car tracks suffered massive damage. Click to enlarge.
Photo Courtesy of USGS

Demolished Home

A woman looks at a house that was reduced to rubble. Click to enlarge.
Photo Courtesy of USGS

In Shambles

The Stanford University Library building suffered extreme damaged, in this photo taken April 21, 1906. Click to enlarge.
AP Photo

Through the Rubble

People walk through the rubble. Click to enlarge.
Photo Courtesy of USGS

Tragic End

Horses were killed by a collapsed building wall. Click to enlarge.
Photo Courtesy of USGS

Disproportions

A view of Market Street between Main and Beale. The original caption read "8 foot basement after quake. 18 inch pump forced through walk." Click to enlarge.
Photo Courtesy of USGS

Mangled Mess

Shown above is the interior of the earthquake- and fire-wrecked building at the corner of Taylor Street and Geary Street. April 20, 1906. Click to enlarge.
Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer--Signal Corps Photographs of American Military Activity

Total Destruction

Collapsed buildings, rubble and wreckage dominated the city. Click to enlarge.
Photo Courtesy of USGS

Refugee Camps

Refugee camps, such as this one in Jefferson Square, were set up throughout the city for those displaced by the earthquake and fire. Click to enlarge.
Photo Courtesy of USGS

Adding Injury to Insult

From a hill overlooking downtown San Francisco, residents watched the fire that swept through the city shortly after the 1906 earthquake. Click to enlarge.

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