This is a tyipical scene in the aftermath of the great San Francisco earthquake that struck on the morning of April 18, 1906. This view is southwest from the corner of Geary and Mason Streets, San Francisco, Ca. (AP Photo/U.S. Geological Survey)
They call it the “Great San Francisco Earthquake” of 1906: but among the hardest hit areas: Santa Rosa. It’s the 111th anniversary of the quake and the ensuing fire today. 100 people died in Santa Rosa, the city hall building and much of downtown was leveled that day as well. San Francisco was the epicenter, but Santa Rosa and Sebastopol shook harder: that quake registered over nine on the Richter Scale.