Aftermath Photos of San Jose that Depict the Destruction of the 1906 Earthquake

View of the house was taken before the 1906 earthquake. The house was heavily damaged in the earthquake, including the central tower shown in the postcard which was never rebuilt.

Post Office on the [Market Street] Plaza soon after the 1906 earthquake. This building later housed the public library, and, since 1975, the San Jose Museum of Art.

Bricks and structure in street from the destroyed building after the earthquake. Men are looking at the photographer. Telephone pole in the foreground.

San Jose High School's three-story brick and stone building was ruined by the 1906 earthquake. It was built at the corner of Seventh Street and San Fernando Street in 1898 for $100,000.

Black-and-white photograph of the 1906 earthquake ruins of San Jose High School's three-story brick and stone building. It was built at the corner of Seventh and San Fernando Streets in 1898 for $100,000.

View of earthquake-damaged San Jose High School. The building was later demolished.

The rails in the left foreground are those of the San Jose, Saratoga, and Los Gatos Inter Urban Railroad Company, later known as the Peninsular Railway Company.

View of earthquake-damaged San Jose Post Office from Market Street. A tower has partially collapsed; there is rubble on the roof on the main building.

The house was heavily damaged in the earthquake, including the central tower shown in the postcard which was never rebuilt.

Scene of earthquake damage on North Second Street where part of the First Presbyterian Church has tumbled into the street. The Modern School of Business can be seen on the left.

View of the earthquake-damaged Hall of Justice, which stood at the corner of Market Street and Saint James Street. It had recently been completed. The building was repaired and it stood until 1962 when it was demolished.

Front view of earthquake-damaged Hall of Records which stood at the corner First Street and Saint James Street.

View of Grant School from Empire Street. A flagpole stands in front of the school to the left. The two-story stucco school stood on East Empire Street between North Tenth and North Eleventh Streets. It was demolished in the early 1970s after failing to meet earthquake safety standards.

The damage is most obvious on the right side of the building where columns are leaning. This house was at 460 North Fifth Street. It was owned by William Dougherty, founder of Dougherty Lumber Company, one of the largest lumber companies in the state. At the time of the earthquake, it was inhabited by his widow, Mrs. Ann Dougherty.

The Gothic post office is at center and is constructed of stone. There are three large towers, including two domed towers in the distance at left and a tall clock tower with a conical roof in the foreground at right. At left, a row of columns supports an overhang over a covered porch. A large dome can be seen between the towers.

The man stands at center in a dark suit and light hat with his head turned back to the foreground and the debris behind him. The walls still stand with the detached roof balancing on top and the floor bent below.

The damaged brick walls of the large building still stand upright behind a grass yard which is lined with a row of palm trees. At center a tall, glass dome of the building still stands above the rest, but the brick walls at center are crumbled and expose the thin support frame inside.

The brick walls of the school still stand, but the roof and top level have collapsed into the center. Many of the rectangular windows are broken and a pile of debris blocks the three archways of the entrance on the left. Trees can be seen next to the building on the far left.

Several people stand along the street looking at the debris of a building that stood on the corner. The half of the building that did not fall can be seen just to the left with all the rooms on the visible side exposed due to the collapsed outer walls. The buildings along the street further down appear to be in tact with many horses and carriages as well as people standing on the sidewalk just outside.

Looking northward at the earthquake-damaged San Jose Post Office, at Market Street and San Antonio Street.

Horace Mann School was rebuilt in 1907 to replace the original school destroyed in the 1906 earthquake. This building was demolished in 1971 when it was unable to meet earthquake standards.