The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake
At 5:12 a.m. on April 18, 1906, San Francisco shook violently. A 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck just 2 miles off the coast. The ground moved in waves for nearly a minute.
People felt the shaking from Oregon to Los Angeles and as far east as central Nevada. This began one of the worst disasters in American history, forever changing the city by the bay.
When The Earth Violently Shook
A small foreshock hit San Francisco 20 seconds before the main quake. Then the San Andreas Fault split open along 296 miles from San Juan Bautista to Cape Mendocino.
The crack raced north at 8,300 miles per hour. Scientists rated the shaking as “extreme” on the Mercalli scale, the second highest level possible.
Buildings on soft, filled-in land suffered worst. These areas shook more intensely than locations built on solid rock.
The First Fires Begin
Flames erupted minutes after the earthquake. Gas lines broke when the ground moved, creating instant fire hazards throughout the city.
Water mains also cracked, leaving firefighters with dry hoses. This fatal combination sealed San Francisco’s fate.
At Hayes and Gough Streets, a woman cooking breakfast started the “Ham and Eggs” fire that burned 30 blocks including City Hall. Some building owners even set fire to their damaged properties, knowing insurance covered fire but not earthquake damage.
The Fires Spread Across The City
Flames raced from the business district toward the rest of San Francisco. The fire devoured everything in its path like a hungry beast.
Over 30 separate fires burned across the city. With no water, firefighters tried using dynamite to create firebreaks by blowing up buildings.
This plan backfired when poorly placed explosives started new fires. The flames burned unchecked for three days until rain finally fell on the fourth day.
The Military Takes Control
Brigadier General Frederick Funston acted quickly. Within 2.5 hours, he sent 155 soldiers to help Mayor Eugene Schmitz.
The mayor ordered troops to shoot looters on sight. Army soldiers created barriers around burning areas, guarded important buildings, and fought fires.
Sailors from nearby Mare Island secured the waterfront. Eventually, over 4,000 federal troops managed the crisis when local authorities couldn’t cope with the massive disaster.
Massive Destruction In Hours
The disaster destroyed about 28,000 buildings. Nearly 490 city blocks burned, covering four square miles.
About 80 percent of San Francisco vanished in three days. The grand Palace Hotel collapsed despite hosting famous guests just the day before. City Hall, which took 27 years to build, crumbled from the earthquake alone.
Streets buckled, wooden homes splintered, and brick buildings toppled. The once-proud skyline became a wasteland of smoke and rubble.
The Rising Death Toll
Early reports counted only 375 to 500 dead, but this missed many victims. Deaths in Chinatown went largely unrecorded by officials.
In 2005, after careful research, San Francisco officially recognized that over 3,000 people died. Most deaths occurred in the city itself.
Another 189 people died elsewhere in the Bay Area. Nearby cities like Santa Rosa and San Jose also suffered severe damage when the fault broke.
Thousands Suddenly Homeless
The disaster left between 225,000 and 300,000 people homeless—over half of San Francisco’s 410,000 residents.
About 75,000 people permanently left the city. Many fled across the bay to Oakland and Berkeley to escape the destruction.
Families camped in parks with whatever belongings they saved. Some escaped with only the clothes they wore. In just one day, a thriving city became a massive refugee camp.
Refugee Camps Across The City
Golden Gate Park became home to 40,000 people living in tents. City parks turned into emergency housing instead of recreation spots.
Officials set up 26 refugee camps around San Francisco. The military ran 21 of these camps, bringing order to chaos.
The Army built tent camps at the Presidio military base for 20,000 people. Chinese residents faced discrimination when forced into a segregated camp with limited access to food and medical care.
Many camps remained open for over two years.
Emergency Relief Efforts
Lieutenant Colonel George Torney coordinated health services across San Francisco. His work prevented disease outbreaks that often follow disasters.
The Army hospital admitted 127 patients on the earthquake day. Medical staff worked nonstop to treat the injured.
Military leaders divided the city into seven relief sections. Congress quickly provided $2.5 million for supplies. Food, tents, and medicine arrived by train from across the country.
Local leaders formed the San Francisco Relief and Red Cross Funds to distribute donations to those in need.
The Staggering Financial Toll
Property losses reached over $400 million in 1906 dollars—equal to $10.2 billion today. The earthquake destroyed decades of growth in minutes.
Insurance companies paid $235 million in claims. Most policies covered fire damage but excluded earthquakes.
The fires caused about $350 million in damage. Flames consumed much more than the earthquake destroyed.
City leaders downplayed the earthquake’s role. They feared losing investment if San Francisco gained a reputation for earthquake danger. Officials often mentioned only the fire in public statements.
Visiting 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire Exhibit
You can explore the 1906 Earthquake and Fire Exhibit at the San Francisco Historical Society Museum on Market Street near Montgomery BART station. The permanent exhibit features original photographs, interactive displays showing how the earthquake spread, and authentic artifacts recovered from the rubble.
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