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| San Fran City Hall |
Devastating fires soon broke out in the city and lasted for several days. As a result, about 3,000 people died and over 80% of the city of San Francisco was destroyed. The events are remembered as one of the worst and deadliest natural disasters in the history of the United States. The death toll remains the greatest loss of life from a natural disaster in California's history and high in the lists of American urban disasters.
Below is a side by side comparison of trolley car trips down Market Street taken 1. on April 14, 1906, four days before quake and fire, and 2. shortly after. Check out the lack of traffic regulation - the trolley car is on a track, but there's no rhyme or reason to anything else - no traffic lights, no lanes, and no rules:
Library of Congress (silent) footage of the quake itself:
And, lastly, a recent documentary on the disaster:
Want more? Check out Google images of the earthquake.
Thank you for posting these.
ReplyDeleteEerily fascinating.
ReplyDeleteTraffic isn't much better today!
Wonderful. What a bustling city. No traffic control, lights, or markings; not much sign of government, no problems. Just freedom and the free market at work!
ReplyDeleteThe date cited for the first video is incorrect. Most if not all of the cars seen in the street are Ford model Ts introduced in 1908 - the first mass produced automobile.
ReplyDeletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Model_T
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ReplyDeleteThe Ford Model T is seen frequently in the "BEFORE" film clip. Since the Model T was introduced in 1908, the film clip is mis-dated to 1906; it must have been filmed after 1908.
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