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The Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake: Horrible Photos Depicting The Destruction Caused By Devastating Earthquake And Firestorm

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On April 18, 1906, a powerful earthquake followed by subsequent fire devastated San Francisco, leaving more than 3,000 people dead and destroying over 80% of the city’s infrastructure and buildings. The earthquake also destroyed the city’s water mains, leaving firefighters with no means of combating the growing blaze, which burned for several days. The fires coalesced into three major blazes — south of Market, north of Market, and in the Hayes Valley, west of the shattered City Hall. Fanned by high winds, this malevolent trio soon united to become one raging firestorm.

The earthquake struck at the coast of Northern California at 5:12 am. High-intensity shaking was felt from Eureka on the North Coast to the Salinas Valley, an agricultural region to the south of the San Francisco Bay Area. At that time, the population of San Francisco was approximately 4000,000 and 250,000 of them were made homeless. 28,000 buildings turned into debris and the damages were estimated at around $500 million (in 1906 dollars).

San Francisco has a history of surviving disasters, and despite the disastrous destruction caused by the earthquake, San Francisco managed to recover quickly and effectively from the earthquake as the city survived during the Gold Rush period. The destruction actually allowed the architects and planners to rebuild a new and improved city. Not long after the disaster, a sign appeared that poked fun at an East Bay rival and summed up the San Francisco spirit. ‘Eat, Drink, and Be Merry,’ the slogan read, ‘For Tomorrow We May Have to Go to Oakland.’ By 1915 San Francisco hosted the Panama Pacific International Exhibition.

These horrible historical photos perfectly depict the destruction caused by the devastating earthquake and firestorm.

#2 San Francisco residents stand in the rubble-strewn streets watching the fire grow after the earthquake struck on April 18, 1906.

San Francisco residents stand in the rubble-strewn streets watching the fire grow after the earthquake struck on April 18, 1906.

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#4 People watch as the Winchester Hotel burns in the aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

People watch as the Winchester Hotel burns in the aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

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#5 A crowd gathers on Telegraph Hill to watch the burning of San Francisco. The view is looking south.

A crowd gathers on Telegraph Hill to watch the burning of San Francisco. The view is looking south.

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#6 Troops walk east along Market Street after the devastating earthquake of 1906. The Call building burns in the distance

Troops walk east along Market Street after the devastating earthquake of 1906. The Call building burns in the distance

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#7 View of Howard Street homes left tilting after the 1906 San Francisco.

View of Howard Street homes left tilting after the 1906 San Francisco.

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#8 A train thrown down by the earthquake at Point Reyes Station. The train was standing on a siding. Beyond are the buildings of the Point Reyes Hotel and, on the extreme right, the ruin of a stone store which was shaken down.

A train thrown down by the earthquake at Point Reyes Station. The train was standing on a siding. Beyond are the buildings of the Point Reyes Hotel and, on the extreme right, the ruin of a stone store which was shaken down.

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#9 A Postal Telegraph tent is set up on Market Street.

A Postal Telegraph tent is set up on Market Street.

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#10 California Street looking east from Grant Avenue, which was DuPont Street in 1906. The immediate part of this district is that of Chinatown, the lower part is the financial district showing Merchant’s Exchange Building.

California Street looking east from Grant Avenue, which was DuPont Street in 1906. The immediate part of this district is that of Chinatown, the lower part is the financial district showing Merchant’s Exchange Building.

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#14 Mission Dolores Church, Dolores and Sixteenth Streets, 1906

Mission Dolores Church, Dolores and Sixteenth Streets, 1906

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#18 View east on Post St. past Shreve & Co. Building, 210 Post St., still standing, 1906

View east on Post St. past Shreve & Co. Building, 210 Post St., still standing, 1906

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#23 Fire scene on Third Street above Mission Street, April 1906

Fire scene on Third Street above Mission Street, April 1906

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#25 Breuner’s furniture store burning out of control in San Francisco at 11 p.m. on April 18, 1906.

Breuner’s furniture store burning out of control in San Francisco at 11 p.m. on April 18, 1906.

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#26 San Francisco residents, some seated in chairs, sit among the earthquake damage, watching out-of-control fires in the distance

San Francisco residents, some seated in chairs, sit among the earthquake damage, watching out-of-control fires in the distance

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#27 Smoke rises from burning buildings on the waterfront during the fire after the earthquake of 1906 in San Francisco, California.

Smoke rises from burning buildings on the waterfront during the fire after the earthquake of 1906 in San Francisco, California.

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#28 Fire in San Francisco following the great earthquake of 1906.

Fire in San Francisco following the great earthquake of 1906.

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#29 Rescue workers helping survivors in the wreckage.

Rescue workers helping survivors in the wreckage.

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#30 African American families on street during the San Francisco Fire of 1906, with clouds of smoke billowing at bottom of hill in background.

African American families on street during the San Francisco Fire of 1906, with clouds of smoke billowing at bottom of hill in background.

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#31 Onlookers pose for a photograph as San Francisco burns in the background on April 18, 1906.

Onlookers pose for a photograph as San Francisco burns in the background on April 18, 1906.

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#32 View of earthquake damage and fires across California Street, south of Nob Hill.

View of earthquake damage and fires across California Street, south of Nob Hill.

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#33 A horse-drawn fire engine retires from a fire to move to a new location on April 19, 1906.

A horse-drawn fire engine retires from a fire to move to a new location on April 19, 1906.

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#34 Evacuees drag trunks from the fire on Van Ness Avenue.

Evacuees drag trunks from the fire on Van Ness Avenue.

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#35 Refugees, aid workers, and soldiers clog a San Francisco intersection after the earthquake and fire.

Refugees, aid workers, and soldiers clog a San Francisco intersection after the earthquake and fire.

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#36 The view northeast from City Hall showing massive damage to San Francisco.

The view northeast from City Hall showing massive damage to San Francisco.

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#37 Souvenier hunters. In the early stages, these people caused considerable trouble to the military authorities.

Souvenier hunters. In the early stages, these people caused considerable trouble to the military authorities.

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#38 Ruins of San Francisco, Nob Hill in foreground, viewed from the Lawrence Captive Airship from a height of 1,500 feet on May 29, 1906, 41 days after the disaster.

Ruins of San Francisco, Nob Hill in foreground, viewed from the Lawrence Captive Airship from a height of 1,500 feet on May 29, 1906, 41 days after the disaster.

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#39 Detail of the panorama photograph of a ruined San Francisco, viewed from the Lawrence Captive Airship on May 29, 1906.

Detail of the panorama photograph of a ruined San Francisco, viewed from the Lawrence Captive Airship on May 29, 1906.

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#40 After the disaster, looking down Sacramento Street, from Nob Hill, with the Ferry Building in background.

After the disaster, looking down Sacramento Street, from Nob Hill, with the Ferry Building in background.

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#41 Looking up California Street from Sansome Street.

Looking up California Street from Sansome Street.

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#43 The destroyed San Francisco City Hall and dome at McAllister Street and Van Ness Avenue.

The destroyed San Francisco City Hall and dome at McAllister Street and Van Ness Avenue.

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#44 The toppled statue of Jean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz, scientist and scholar, knocked from the facade of Stanford University’s zoology building in April of 1906.

The toppled statue of Jean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz, scientist and scholar, knocked from the facade of Stanford University’s zoology building in April of 1906.

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#45 Bread lines formed across the city as aid distribution centers were established.

Bread lines formed across the city as aid distribution centers were established.

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#46 Junction of Sacramento, Market, and Embarcadero Streets, and part of the car track loop in front of the Ferry Building.

Junction of Sacramento, Market, and Embarcadero Streets, and part of the car track loop in front of the Ferry Building.

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#47 Disruption of Van Ness Avenue over a filled-in ravine. Original caption: “Break in asphalt paving on Van Ness Avenue near Vallejo Street.

Disruption of Van Ness Avenue over a filled-in ravine. Original caption: “Break in asphalt paving on Van Ness Avenue near Vallejo Street.

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#48 Looting a cash register and destroyed buildings at corner of 4th and Market Streets.

Looting a cash register and destroyed buildings at corner of 4th and Market Streets.

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#49 Market Street at the junction of Powell and Market, looking east toward the Ferry Building.

Market Street at the junction of Powell and Market, looking east toward the Ferry Building.

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#51 Families take refuge in tents set up in green spaces and parks across the city.

Families take refuge in tents set up in green spaces and parks across the city.

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#52 Market Street, looking west toward the Twin Peaks, from Battery Street. Both sides of Market Street lined with ruined buildings from Battery to Powell.

Market Street, looking west toward the Twin Peaks, from Battery Street. Both sides of Market Street lined with ruined buildings from Battery to Powell.

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#53 Street scenes of San Francisco after the earthquake, April 1906

Street scenes of San Francisco after the earthquake, April 1906

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#62 Guerrero and 17th Streets Looking Northwest, 1906

Guerrero and 17th Streets Looking Northwest, 1906

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#67 Mills Building, northeast corner of Montgomery & Bush Streets, 1906

Mills Building, northeast corner of Montgomery & Bush Streets, 1906

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#71 Pierce Rudolph Storage on Eddy Street between Fillmore and Webster Streets, 1906

Pierce Rudolph Storage on Eddy Street between Fillmore and Webster Streets, 1906

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#74 Refugee camp in Golden Gate Park near McLaren Lodge, 1906

Refugee camp in Golden Gate Park near McLaren Lodge, 1906

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#93 Third and Brannan Streets looking west on Brannan, 1906

Third and Brannan Streets looking west on Brannan, 1906

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#102 City Hall Avenue in the Civic Center and Pioneer Monument, 1906

City Hall Avenue in the Civic Center and Pioneer Monument, 1906

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#105 Fire scene from Jefferson Square Park with refugees, April 1906

Fire scene from Jefferson Square Park with refugees, April 1906

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#107 First and Harrison Streets looking southeast, 1906

First and Harrison Streets looking southeast, 1906

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#111 Boy’s Gymnasium, Stanford University, Palo Alto.

Boy's Gymnasium, Stanford University, Palo Alto.

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#129 Hanneman Hospital. California and Maple Streets.

Hanneman Hospital. California and Maple Streets.

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#160 Grace Episcopal, California and Stockton Streets.

Grace Episcopal, California and Stockton Streets.

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#180 San Francisco Mission District burning in the aftermath of the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906.

San Francisco Mission District burning in the aftermath of the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906.

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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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