Here’s what happened in 1906:

At approximately 5:12 a.m. on April 18, 1906, a series of seismic waves spread from just off the coast of San Mateo across Northern California at speeds that no land could withstand. San Francisco had survived other earthquakes, but poor judgment and greed left the City without minimal safety measures when the San Andreas Fault made its move. Then the fires burned down what hadn’t fallen down. Three days after the forty- to sixty-second quake, after the smoke of the fires cleared, 4.7 square miles of the City were burned, including the core of the commercial and residential districts.

More than twenty-eight thousand buildings burned, including the City Hall, the Hall of Records, thirty-one schools, the main library and twenty-seven firehouses. The value of the lost property was variously assessed at between $250 million and $1 billion. The number of people killed by the earthquake and fires remains unsettled. The reported figure hovers between 1000 and 4000 but we have to assume that people of color were almost assuredly left underrepresented in those reports.

San Francisco was a thriving western cultural center with art pouring forth from all quarters. Yut Gum, an actress called “the Bernhardt of the Celestial Realm,” migrated to the City from New York to enchant the Chinese community. The famous Black musical team of Williams and Walker met and began their collaboration in San Francisco. Then as now, each community had artistic expression at its core. Within weeks of the devastation, San Francisco artists and artisans were back at work revivifying the heart of the City.

Grateful thanks to the staff of the San Francisco History Center of the San Francisco Public Library and staff of the Chinese Historical Society of America.

This is a glimpse into the past.

For more info, see: www.sfrising.org
www.1906centennial.org
www.sfhistory.org
and for updated safety info: www.72hours.org

Here’s what’s shaking in 2006:

Centennial Website Calendar

Ongoing

Earthquake and Fire Walk, one of many free walking tours (this one with no hills!) offered by SF City Guides. Seven days a week. www.sfcityguides.org

Through May 11

Before and After the Earthquake, an Art on Market Street Program historically-based poster series by artist Abner Nolan, on the pedestrian side of 24 kiosks on Market Street between Van Ness and the Embarcadero. www.sfartscommission.org/pubart/

Through May 30

A Disaster in Pictures, photographs from 1906 at the Museum of Modern Art, Third St. between Mission and Howard. www.sfmoma.org

Through May 31

How To Survive an Earthquake, a humorous look at San Francisco, 1906. SF Public Library, 100 Larkin St., Skylight Gallery. www.sfpl.org

Through June 4

After the Ruins: 1906 and 2006, Mark Klett’s re-photographs of famous earthquake pictures. Legion of Honor, Lincoln Park. www.thinker.org

April 5

Earthquake, Diablo Ballet premiere commissioned by Computers and Structures, Inc.at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. 8:00 p.m. www.diabloballet.org

April 11

Lesbian to the Rescue, slide show and lecture by Michael Helquist about Dr. Marie Equi’s historic earthquake relief efforts. Eureka Valley/Harvey Milk Memorial Branch Library, 3555 16th St. (near Market). 7:00 p.m. www.sfpl.org

April 13-16

They Survived the ’06 Quake, 100 minutes of memories presented by the Multi-Ethnic Theater. Eight performances at The Next Stage, 1620 Gough St. www.wehavemet.org, 415/333-6389

April 15

Chinatown is Burning! Performer Charlie Chin embodies earthquake survivor, Hugh Liang (1891-1984), to tell the story of the destruction and rebuilding of a community. Main Library, 100 Larkin St., Koret Auditorium, 2:00 p.m. Co-sponsored with the Chinatown Historical Society of America. www.chsa.org

April 15

Firefighter’s Costume Ball, Pier 48, Bldg. C. 8:00 p.m. to midnight, SFFD Historical Society, www.1906Expo.com or 800/310-6563

April 15-17

1906 Great Earthquake and Fire Exposition, sponsored by the SF Fire Department Historical Society, Pier 48, Bldgs. A and D. Exhibits, two stages with live entertainment, vintage firefighting apparatus, food and family fun. www.1906Expo.com

April 16

1906 Concert and Sing-Along: A Caruso Memory, Yerba Buena Gardens Stage, Mission between Third and Fourth Sts. Selections from “Carmen,” Caruso’s last performance in San Francisco the night before the quake. 5:30 p.m. www.californiahistoricalsociety.org

April 17-Nov. 30

San Francisco After the Earthquake explores the rebuilding of the city. SF Historical Society and Museum exhibition at City Hall, South Light Court, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place. M-F, 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.

April 18

Lotta’s Fountain, Third and Market Streets. Annual Celebration: meet survivors of the disaster, fire fighters with vintage equipment and the Mayor. 4:30 a.m.

April 18

Golden Hydrant, Church and 20th Sts. Annual painting of “The Little Giant,” the only fire hydrant with water the day after the disaster. 7:00 a.m.

April 18

Dennis Smith, author of “San Francisco is Burning,” discusses the fire—the man-made tragedy that followed the earthquake. Main Library, 100 Larkin St., Koret Auditorium. 6:00 p.m. www.sfpl.com

April 18-22

They Survived the ’06 Quake, 100 minutes of memories presented by the Multi-Ethnic Theater at St. Boniface Theater, 133 Golden Gate Ave. www.wehavemet.org 415/333-6389

April 19

We Were There. Malcolm Baker, editor of “Three Fearful Days,” and Joanne Lafler present firsthand accounts from survivors’ unpublished memoirs. Main Library, 100 Larkin St., Koret Auditorium. 6:00 p.m. www.sfpl.org

April 21

Cartography of Ashes, a 30-minute film by Dolissa Medina, projected on the side of a training tower at SF Fire Station #7, 19th and Folsom Sts. 8:00 p.m. www.ashes06.org.

April 27

Rebuilding San Francisco: The Workers’ Story, television documentary, followed by a panel of people from the building trades. Main Library, 100 Larkin Street, Koret Auditorium 6:00 p.m. www.sfpl.org

May 6-7

Lotta’s Opera, site-specific, 40-minute performance by Epiphany Productions and the Sonic Dance Theatre Opera. Originating at Lotta’s Fountain, Market, Geary and Kearny Streets, it moves across Market to the Palace Hotel, site of Caruso’s post-quake solo. 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. www.epiphanydance.org

June 15-August 26

The Dust Never Settles, Arts Commission Gallery exhibition featuring multi-sited, multi-layered contemporary art projects (a residency, an exhibition, a poster project, a blog, a video and a series of flip books). Artists Patricia Diart, Kate Pocrass, Margaret Tedesco and Claudia Tennyson ask what it means to live our lives in this beautiful city with an ever-present possibility of disaster looming underfoot. 401 Van Ness Ave., Wed.-Sat., noon to 5:00 p.m. www.sfacgallery.org