San Francisco after the devastating earthquake of 1906 and today
At 5:12 a.m. on April 18, 1906, San Francisco woke up from a strong jolt. For the next 25 seconds, everything was quiet. And then for 42 whole seconds the city was shaking. Buildings were collapsing, the ground was going out from under their feet, the rails of tram tracks were diverging. But the worst thing began later. 90% of the damage to the city was caused by fires caused by the destruction of gas stations.
This project combines old photographs of that tragedy and modern photographs taken at the same place. But these are not typical "before and after" photos, these are two-in-one shots. Each photo merges photos taken in 1906 and 2010. The photographer found the exact spot where the original photographer was standing, picked up the distance, lighting. As a result, we got scary, but interesting photos of what the city was like at the time of the tragedy and what it is now.
People look at the fire on the corner of Franklin and Hayes Streets.
A woman gets into her Mercedes, and dead horses lie under the rubble of a building on Sacramento Street.
A woman walks past the wreckage of a building on 5th Street. The Treasury building survived the earthquake surprisingly well.
Two girls stand in front of a partially destroyed building in Golden Gate Park.
People walk down Drum Street while others try to rebuild the ruined city.
The tram heads towards California Street while shocked residents wander aimlessly among the wreckage.
People on the background of tents where those who lost their homes lived. In the background, the restoration of the Ferry skyscraper begins.
Satisfied tourists drive by tram past the Fairmont Hotel, the interior of which burned down in a fire after the earthquake.
Trams pass along California Street, which was destroyed. St. Mary's Cathedral (right) miraculously survived the destruction.
Residents climbed higher to look at the fires that engulfed the city.
Passers-by walk past the monument to mechanics on Bush Street, and a ghostly image of a dilapidated building can be seen in the background.
Mothers are resting on the parapet in Alamo Square while their children are playing on the grass, and the fire of the last tragedy is raging in the sky.
Tram No. 455 in a partially destroyed parking lot.
Passers-by on Market Street in front of the destroyed Hearst building.
Cars drive along Van Ness Avenue, which was damaged after the earthquake.
People walk past the wreckage on Geary Street.
Cyclists drive to the destroyed building of the Valencia Hotel and a huge hole that appeared in the middle of the road during the earthquake.
People walk along California Street among the charred wreckage.
Cars are parked in front of a brand-new courthouse that has survived the earthquake well.
People are walking near the Dolores Church, which survived the earthquake, which cannot be said about the destroyed church nearby.
Carts and cars in front of Lafayette Park against the backdrop of a ruined city.
People walk near St. Mary's Cathedral, which survived the earthquake, but burned down in a fire.
The city bustle at the Lot Fountain, which served as a meeting place after the earthquake.
The homeless people live in tents, and the intact building of the Flowers Conservatory stands behind them.
Pedestrians on Jones Street walk to the wreckage of a building on Market Street. The bank building in the background burned down, but today it stands firmly in its place.
Keywords: Earthquake | San francisco | Then and now | Photo montage