San Francisco, a city of grandeur and promise, was brought to its knees on April 18, 1906, as a devastating earthquake struck at 5:12 a.m. The temblor lasted a mere three minutes, but the destruction it wrought would be felt for years to come. Thousands of buildings were reduced to rubble, and the loss of life was staggering. As the city struggled to come to terms with the disaster, fires raged out of control, fueled by the scarcity of water and the remnants of a once-thriving metropolis.
Related Federal Cases
Key Facts
- State: National
- Category: Violent Crime
- Era: Historical
- Source: Library of Congress — Chronicling America ↗
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