In the early morning hours of April 18th, 1906, San Franciscans awoke to a quick jolt beneath them. Then, following a short pause, the hilly city shook with ferocious intensity for 42 seconds. Streets buckled like ribbon, buildings toppled killing horses and people below… and that was just the beginning. Following the initial impact of the earthquake, fires broke out around the city. Many were started by inexperienced firefighters who, in attempts to build firebreaks by dynamiting destroyed buildings, ignited ruptured gas mains. 30 fires burned for 4 days and 4 nights, ultimately destroying approximately 25,000 buildings on 490 city blocks. The once beautiful city was brought to its knees. [Read more...]