
The San Francisco Earthquake
The 1906 earthquake that struck San Francisco on April 18, caused major havoc and disaster resulting not only in collapsed buildings but fires that raged for days without control. The city's water supply was affected and almost 500 people are said to have lost their lives.
By the time it ended, almost all of San Francisco lay in ruins and approximately 400,000 people were made homeless.
http://www.sfmuseum.org/1906/06.html
http://www.sfmuseum.org/sunset/index.html
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/san-francisco/history#102843

