San Francisco 1906: Earthquake, Fire, and Reconstruction

On April 18th 1906, San Francisco was struck by a devastating combination of earthquake-plus-fire, which led to one of the worst disasters in U.S. history in terms of both casualties and damages involved. By reviewing a selected literature dedicated to this tragic event, the article offers an insight on the natural as well as human origins underlying it. Three main parts structure the text. The background, which gives a description of San Francisco's architecture and seismic awareness at the turn of the Twentieth century. An examination of the disaster itself then follows, with particular regards to local authorities' management of the emergency. Finally, a focus on reconstruction is provided by outlining aspects of continuity and change. The article suggests that the 1906 calamity revealed the fragile material and political foundation undermining San Francisco's dream as the metropolis of the Pacific.