1906 San Francisco Earthquake: A Captivating Guide to the Deadliest Earthquake in the History of the United States

By: Captivating History

Narrated by: Jason Zenobia

Length: 1 hr and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Did you know that the 1906 San Francisco earthquake is thought to be one of the deadliest earthquakes in history?

In the early morning of April 18th, 1906, in San Francisco, California, the ground heaved up. Buildings swayed like blades of grass and collapsed, and soon after, fires consumed everything in their path. It is believed that around 3,000 people died, and almost all those left standing after the ground settled had become homeless.

This audiobook will take you on a journey of one of the most terrible earthquakes in recorded history. You will discover stories of average citizens just trying to survive and those courageous enough to face danger, whether it be fire or collapsing buildings. From the initial panic to battling crisis after crisis to an incredible aftermath, the story of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake shows that history can be more captivating than fiction.

In this audiobook, you will learn about:

• The moment the quake hit and its immediate aftermath
• The terrifying fires that ripped through the city
• How dynamite saved the city from more damage
• Real eyewitness accounts of horrors, heroes, and heartbreaks
• How the city banded together to save itself and begin to rebuild

Buy this audiobook now to learn more about the history of 1906 San Francisco Earthquake!

©2021 Captivating History (P)2021 Captivating History

not just the city touched

many know of the death and destruction caused in the city by the quake and subsequent fires. this story also brings up the numerous deaths brought about by disease, unexpected births, and just trying to keep law and order.

it also talks about that while many would come together to try and help/rebuild, there were others who actually had to be forced.

the most interesting part was the logistics of how they had to gather, and then properly distribute, all the various provisions for all the refugees.

it's short,and could probably be longer and more in depth, but still fascinating.

san franscisco earthquake

this book was a very good book as are all of the books by captivating history. I can not recommend these books enough. these books are always clear and concise.

The Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906

As a native Californian who spent my childhood and early adulthood living there, I heard stories about this event and read many narratives about it in history books as I was growing up. I vividly recall the Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, Janette MacDonald movie with its vivid depiction of the earthquake, and whose special effects for the time were quite spectacular. I was born in Los Angeles and lived there for the majority of my "California life" and earthquakes were no stranger. Of course I was aware that it had happened but I really did not fully understand the magnitude of the event itself.

During the war years my father relocated our family to the San Francisco area in order to work in the ship yards building ships for the war effort. Though quite young then I still have very many memories of the city itself and all of its many attractions and very its very special ambiance. At that time it was less than generation since the devastating 1906 earthquake and there were no signs of its effect, at least in my memories. The city had been rebuilt and expanded and turned into a really magical place. The construction of the Golden Gate Bridge itself was and still is a modern marvel. For a child a trip across it was a a fascinating and exciting experience. And even as an adult it still feels the same to me.

Reading this book and listening to the audio version, until then, I really had no idea as to how devastating the earthquake had been. It is a very worthwhile read and an eye-opening experience for anyone who has ever visited this great city. Its recovery, growth and development after such a shattering event is a testament to the survivors and those who came afterward. The description of the triggering event itself was something I had never guessed at. That it was an undersea earthquake of over an 8 point magnitude far out to sea, without generating a tsunami but triggering the event itself under the underground fault beneath the city, far removed from where that had occurred, was a real surprise.

It is a really great read and if you are a history buff you will enjoy it even if you have not had the good fortune to have ever visited the great city of San Francisco. In very many ways it is a very special place to very many Americans and others from around the world. You will enjoy it.

Excellent

This is a very informative audio book about the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. I would definitely recommend this title to others

Good succinct story

I would have liked a bit more of the anecdotes of how the people survived afterwards. Otherwise this was a good story and performance.

Poorly researched

I have read several well documented & footnoted books on the earthquake. The man made disaster vastly outdid any earthquake damage. The fires could have been much more well managed if the military had not driven homeowners away, even killing several hundred who wanted to remain to protect & were not allowed to stay. The so called dynamite squads were the main culprits in the spread of fires. There weren’t strong winds… the dynamite threw huge chunks chunks of debris blocks away, spreading the fires catastrophically farther then they ever would have gone. The consensus in the extensive material I have read is that the military, just back from fighting in the Philippines, killed twice as many as the quake did, & that the fires, if left to burn themselves out if homeowners had been allowed to stay & contain them, would have not been as severe as the quake damage. Allowing a callous general, who had much more hubris than sense, to take over was the greatest cause of loss of life & property.

I’ve listened to close to 40 CH essays, & this is one of most disappointing in terms of factual info.