PowerPoint Show by Andrew

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110 years ago next week, on April 18, 1906, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake centered near the city of San Francisco struck at 5:15 AM. The intense shaking toppled hundreds of buildings, but the resulting out-of-control fires were even more destructive.

Broken water mains and limited firefighting capabilities allowed city-wide fires to burn for several days. Nearly 500 city blocks were leveled, with more than 25,000 buildings destroyed. At the time, the city was home to more than 400,000 residents—after the disaster, 250,000 were left homeless.

The exact death toll is undetermined, but most estimates place the number of deaths caused by the earthquake and fire at more than 3,000.

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

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

San Francisco in flames, April 18, 1906.

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

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

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

Fire in San Francisco following the great earthquake of 1906. View from Golden Gate Park.

Troops walk east along Market Street after the devastating earthquake.

Evacuees drag trunks from the fire on Van Ness Avenue.

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

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

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

Ruined San Francisco, viewed from an Airship on May 29, 1906.

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

View of tilting homes after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

Looking up California Street from Sansome Street.

The destroyed San Francisco City Hall and dome.

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

A train thrown off the track by the earthquake at Point Reyes Station.

Cooking in the streets of San Francisco.

A Postal Telegraph tent is set up on Market Street.

California Street looking east from Grant Avenue.

Market Street looking east toward the Ferry Building.

Pine St. below Kearney St.

Preparing hot food for refugees.

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

Market Street, looking west toward the Twin Peaks, from Battery Street.