The SF quake
January 14, 2006 7:14 PM Subscribe
The Bancroft Library unveils a new 1906 San Francisco Earthquake site featuring a really cool clickable map that features photos from each section of town. Haight Street didn't look too bad, but just down the road, City Hall was leveled. The exhibit offers a guide to the event that look place nearly 100 years ago.
While plenty of conventional businesses were reborn, at least one wholly new industry arose from the ashes: disaster tourism. The San Francisco earthquake and fire had immediately become legend, and there were visitors – some curious, some morbid – who desired to see the wreckage firsthand. Considerable money was to be made in guided tours. It appeared that San Francisco's entrepreneurial spirit was indeed alive and well.
See Also
posted by ColdChef at 8:22 PM on January 14, 2006
See Also
posted by ColdChef at 8:22 PM on January 14, 2006
Simon Winchester released a book about the San Francisco earthquake in the fall - A Crack in the Edge of the World. In an interview on CBC Radio's The Current (and no doubt many other places) he compares the emergency response in 1906 with the response to Katrina - Simon Winchester, November 10, 2005 (direct to audio).
posted by Chuckles at 8:38 PM on January 14, 2006
posted by Chuckles at 8:38 PM on January 14, 2006
Fascinating, thanks! The Victorian I used to call home was built right before the quake and survived. Couldn't find a photo of it, but it was a block from this shot of 25th and Guerrero.
Interesting that folks waiting in line for food in this picture of Church and Market are right in front of what is today one of my favorite restaurants, Chow.
The Bancroft is an academic treasure; this may be one of its best efforts at providing a service for regular folks.
posted by donpedro at 8:43 PM on January 14, 2006
Interesting that folks waiting in line for food in this picture of Church and Market are right in front of what is today one of my favorite restaurants, Chow.
The Bancroft is an academic treasure; this may be one of its best efforts at providing a service for regular folks.
posted by donpedro at 8:43 PM on January 14, 2006
My favorite kind of post, illustrating how a modern array of technologies like the web can interest people in the past. Thanks.
posted by Miko at 8:45 PM on January 14, 2006
posted by Miko at 8:45 PM on January 14, 2006
Interesting that folks waiting in line for food in this picture of Church and Market are right in front of what is today one of my favorite restaurants, Chow.
Also my favorite restaurant, right next door to the "ATM Inside" bar.
posted by mathowie at 9:04 PM on January 14, 2006
Also my favorite restaurant, right next door to the "ATM Inside" bar.
posted by mathowie at 9:04 PM on January 14, 2006
Overall, I think it's great that this exhibit exists, but the writing and editing leave something to be desired. Technically it's pretty cool, though, and as someone who experienced the Loma Prieta quake here in the City, I find the details fascinating.
posted by trip and a half at 10:17 PM on January 14, 2006
posted by trip and a half at 10:17 PM on January 14, 2006
Anyone know area was hardest hit?
One of the most unsettling incidents in my life was at a restaurant in the St. Francis watching hanging light fixtures jiggle and jostle during (what turned out to be) a minor quake.
posted by RavinDave at 10:23 PM on January 14, 2006
One of the most unsettling incidents in my life was at a restaurant in the St. Francis watching hanging light fixtures jiggle and jostle during (what turned out to be) a minor quake.
posted by RavinDave at 10:23 PM on January 14, 2006
The "really cool clickable map" lives up to it's name.
posted by Smedleyman at 10:28 PM on January 14, 2006
posted by Smedleyman at 10:28 PM on January 14, 2006
This San Francisco... it vibrates?
The Bancroft Collection includes classic photos from the earthquake showing a freak accident that involved the statue, in front of Stanford’s Zoology Building, of Louis Agassiz (1807—1873), one of America’s most famous scientists, and a bitter opponent of Darwin’s theory of evolution. During the quake, the statue fell 50 feet and ended up with its head buried upside down in the pavement.
Supporters of evolution said that God might have been trying to make an editorial comment about the scientist. A passing professor, on the other hand, reportedly said “I always thought Agassiz was better in the abstract than in the concrete.”
posted by LeLiLo at 10:57 PM on January 14, 2006
The Bancroft Collection includes classic photos from the earthquake showing a freak accident that involved the statue, in front of Stanford’s Zoology Building, of Louis Agassiz (1807—1873), one of America’s most famous scientists, and a bitter opponent of Darwin’s theory of evolution. During the quake, the statue fell 50 feet and ended up with its head buried upside down in the pavement.
Supporters of evolution said that God might have been trying to make an editorial comment about the scientist. A passing professor, on the other hand, reportedly said “I always thought Agassiz was better in the abstract than in the concrete.”
posted by LeLiLo at 10:57 PM on January 14, 2006
Also my favorite restaurant, right next door to the "ATM Inside" bar.
posted by mathowie at 11:04 PM CST on January 14 [!]
Ah yes, the Pilsner Inn. Nice little joint, beautiful back patio. The Castro's best sports bar.
posted by donpedro at 11:09 PM on January 14, 2006
posted by mathowie at 11:04 PM CST on January 14 [!]
Ah yes, the Pilsner Inn. Nice little joint, beautiful back patio. The Castro's best sports bar.
posted by donpedro at 11:09 PM on January 14, 2006
That was a fun game of "find your friends' flat". 1 for 5!
posted by anglophiliated at 3:41 AM on January 15, 2006
posted by anglophiliated at 3:41 AM on January 15, 2006
The "really cool clickable map" lives up to its name.
Except it would have been even cooler if the map showed the locations of the photographs. But you can't have everything.
Great post (even if it is sort of a double)!
posted by languagehat at 6:32 AM on January 15, 2006
Except it would have been even cooler if the map showed the locations of the photographs. But you can't have everything.
Great post (even if it is sort of a double)!
posted by languagehat at 6:32 AM on January 15, 2006
[this is good]
chuckles, thanks for the audio.
somehow I missed the entire press push for this book's release.
posted by Busithoth at 10:40 AM on January 15, 2006
chuckles, thanks for the audio.
somehow I missed the entire press push for this book's release.
posted by Busithoth at 10:40 AM on January 15, 2006
Damn, that Call Building is fantastic. Supposedly it survived the quake and fire and was remodeled into this?!
posted by dhartung at 2:03 PM on January 15, 2006
posted by dhartung at 2:03 PM on January 15, 2006
There is something similar here:
http://www.wayfaring.com/maps/show/4101
posted by mdoeff at 8:10 PM on January 19, 2006
http://www.wayfaring.com/maps/show/4101
posted by mdoeff at 8:10 PM on January 19, 2006
How'd I miss this?
posted by panoptican at 5:06 PM on February 8, 2006
posted by panoptican at 5:06 PM on February 8, 2006
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posted by ColdChef at 8:04 PM on January 14, 2006