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History

Remembering History: The Great San Francisco Earthquake (18 April 1906)

On April 18. 1906 San Francisco would suffer a devastating earthquake resulting in a massive fire that would destroy buildings, cause many deaths, leaving a city in ruins.

Northeast View of Post & Grant Avenues, San Francisco, 18 April 1906
Public Domain (National Archives and Records Administration, ARC Identifier: 524396)

San Francisco, once a small town with a large natural bay that was once known as Yerba Buena , grew rapidly during the Gold Rush of 1849. People seeking to find wealth passed through resulting in rapid growth as businesses grew to accommodate them in every possible way. The city would expand in size to handle the new housing needs by filling in areas with sediment. Most of this area would become known locally as “South of the Slot” meaning south of Market Street called today South of Market Area (SOMA). The earthquake of 1906 would show the difference between building on bedrock and sediment.

At 5:12 am on 18 April 1906, Northern California was brought forcefully out of sleep by an earthquake that was so powerful it was felt as far away as Oregon, portions of Nevada, and even Los Angeles. Lasting only 45-60 seconds, it measured between 7.7 and 7.9 on the Richter scale, though initially it was thought higher at 8.3. The earthquake destroyed buildings, ruptured gas and water lines, buckled streets, derailed trains on tracks, and in some places opening areas of land. Ruptured gas lines in San Francisco allowed gas to escape and ignite resulting in the massive fire that would burn to city taking with it buildings and people who had survived the earthquake. The most devasted areas of the earthquake itself were built on sediment. Buildings on bedrock escaped serious damage though the fire later did destroy buildings not destroyed by the earthquake itself.

The train was standing on a siding. Beyond are the buildings of the Point Reyes Hotel, and at the extreme right the ruin of a stone store which was shaken down.Point Reyes Station, west Marin County, California. April 18, 1906
Image: G.K. Gilbert
Source: Photographs from the U.S. Geological Survey Photographic Library (CD-Rom)
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

Earthquake damage was not limited to San Francisco. Cities in California such as Santa Rosa were hit hard and the entire downtown was destroyed. Train tracks in many areas were damaged and trains sitting on tracks were derailed. Areas of land were split by the earthquake leaving a scar that would remain in some areas for decades. In San Francisco, the fire generated by the igniting of gas spread causing widespread damage resulting in mandatory evacuations. The U.S. Army was called in to assist with this and with putting out the fire. The attempt to use explosives to destroy buildings that would spread fire proved to make things worse. It spread embers that started other fires. Making matters worse was the lack of water. The earthquake had ruptured the water supply, and the fire chief was killed in the earthquake. Worse due to corruption, some construction of the city’s buildings was shown to have been built poorly.

People were evacuated to parks; some were able to flee on ferries across the bay; camps were set up for those displaced by the fires. When it was over, an estimated 3,000 people died from the earthquake and subsequent fires. Thousands were left homeless and needed new homes. A large part of San Francisco was in ruins with rebuilding on a large scale needed. The problem for the city leaders was that they had to convince people San Francisco was safe so they would stay. So, a scheme was concocted to make the fires, not the earthquake, the reason for the destruction. Conveniently left out was the fact the earthquake caused the gas lines to break and caused massive destruction on areas built just on sediment or better known as landfill. The city leaders made sure, and evidence later confirmed it, to downplay the earthquake and make the fires the culprit. Rebuilding began and no new rules were put into place to make sure buildings built on landfill were safer. It would not be until late in the 20th century that building codes would be altered to make buildings better able to handle earthquakes.

By the time of the Loma Prieta Earthquake of 1989, many new buildings were constructed to handle earthquakes such as the one I was in that day. The building swayed with the earthquake but did create some problems. Office equipment got thrown about and in a nearby office, a copier moved from one side of the room to the other, embedding itself in the wall. Chaos took place outside. Power was off and the electric buses were stopped. Traffic lights were down and the regional subway (BART) was shuttered because of the earthquake. In my building, the staff had no idea what to do so we had to fend for ourselves eventually heading down the emergency stairway to the street. There was debris on the street that fell off buildings. An old building across the street had its roof fall in. Lots of people were milling about not knowing what to do and police were not much in sight. Fortunately, I went over to the old Transbay Transit Center (now rebuilt as the Salesforce Transit Center) and caught a bus down to Daly City where I lived at the time. I would find out later that down in the Marina District buildings had collapsed and fires had broken out but fortunately the SF Fire Boat was able to assist in dousing some of the fires. The World Series at old Candlestick Park would have to be rescheduled.

Photograph of a collapsed facade of a building near Beach and Divisadero Streets in San Francisco
October 1989
Photo: J.K. Nakata, United States Geological Survey
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

Sources

“San Francisco Earthquake of 1906,” Encyclopedia Britannica, last modified April 11, 2026, accessed April 17, 2026, https://www.britannica.com/event/San-Francisco-earthquake-of-1906.

———. “San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 | HISTORY.” HISTORY. Last modified May 28, 2025. Accessed April 17, 2026. https://www.history.com/articles/1906-san-francisco-earthquake.

Cherny, Robert W. “San Francisco and the Great Earthquake of 1906 | Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.” Last modified 2007. Accessed April 17, 2026. https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-resources/essays/san-francisco-and-great-earthquake-1906.

“The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire.” https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/sf-earthquake-and-fire/.

“The Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake.” https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/events/1906calif/18april/.

“Casualties and Damage After the 1906 Earthquake.” https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/events/1906calif/18april/casualties.php.

Videos & Documentaries

Library of Congress. “San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, April 18, 1906.” Video. YouTube, July 29, 2010. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOwWmt9NBM0.

glamourdaze. “1906 San Francisco Earthquake (Orig 35mm Film) Restored to Life.” Video. YouTube, November 23, 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLt-Gy6FD2Y.

Fascinating Horror, “The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake | a Short Documentary | Fascinating Horror,” Video, YouTube, November 21, 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkz5BE6SDMY.

Titanic

Titanic Chronology-Titanic Departs Southampton (10 April 1912)

The Day Has Finally Arrived: Titanic Sets Sail On Her Maiden Voyage To New York

The day started off quiet as Titanic captain Edward J. Smith boards the ship at 7:30 am. Titanic has been docked in Southampton since 3 April and taken on crew and supplies for the voyage. The first train from London bearing passengers was at 9:30 am. The railway–London & South Western–had its station quayside to where Titanic was birthed making it a short trip to the ship. Many who were traveling Third Class or commonly called Steerage, had to undergo medical inspections before boarding. If American authorities denied them entry, White Star had to bring them back at their cost. First Class passengers were personally greeted by Captain Smith. Many knew him already having sailed with him on other ships. Back then a respected ship captain was a reason to choose the ship to sail on. After meeting the captain, they were escorted to their cabins. Second Class did not meet the captain but were escorted by stewards to their cabins.

Titanic at the docks of Southampton, 10 April 1912
Unknown Author
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

Titanic would pick up a total of 920 passengers in Southampton. The biggest number at 494 were the Third-Class passengers; First Class had 179 and Second Class 247. Additional passengers (and some departing from the ship) would occur at Cherbourg and Queenstown. There is a story that some Third-Class passengers would miss the sailing owing to staying at the pub too long. By the time they ran to the ship, the gangplank had been removed. They would claim later they were saved from the disaster, but most knew it was they stayed too long enjoying their pints of ale.

At noon, the ship’s whistle signaled its departure, and many came to see not only friends off, but the ship itself. Cameras did photograph the departure, but no movie footage appears to have survived. Due to her size, Titanic created huge displacement of water. And as she departed this displacement caused ships nearby to start moving upwards. One ship, the liner New York, had its mooring cables snap due to the strain. This caused the ship to swing out stern-first towards Titanic. Captain Smith ordered the engines full astern to get more speed so Titanic would avoid colliding with the New York. It was close at four feet, but it worked. A nearby tugboat came to assist bringing the drifting ship back safely to its berth. All ships were delayed for an hour while this occurred.

Titanic reversed her course, drifts back toward the mouth of White Star Dock, as New York is manouevered to a temporary mooring in the River Itchen (Daily Mirror)
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
SS Nomadic in Cherbourg harbour, where she served along with the SS Traffic as a tender for the Olympic-class liners and other White Star Line vessels too large for the shallow waters of the port.
1911, Author Unknown
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

Titanic would then make her way out of Southampton, and after dropping off the harbor pilot, headed into the English Channel heading for Cherbourg, France. The journey was 77 nautical miles (89 miles). An overcast sky with wind and cold would keep most passengers inside during this part of the journey. Arriving at 6:30 pm, Titanic would take on passengers by tender since there were no docking facilities for a ship of this size. Two tenders, the SS Traffic and SS Nomadic, would ferry passengers to and from Titanic. 24 passengers who only bought tickets for the journey from Southampton to Cherbourg would depart. 274 passengers would board at Cherbourg: 142 First Class, 30 Second Class, and 102 Third Class. Once the loading of all passengers and luggage was done by 8 pm, Titanic blew its whistle and began heading to Queenstown, Ireland for its last stop. The weather would remain cold and windy on that leg of the journey as well.

Sources

Books

Behe, George TITANIC: SAFETY, SPEED AND SACRIFICE, Transportation Trails, Polo, IL 1997

Behe, G. (2012). On board RMS Titanic: Memories of the Maiden Voyage. The History Press.

Cameron, Stephen. Titanic: Belfast’s Own. Colourpoint, 2011.

Eaton John P. & Haas Charles, TITANIC TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY, SECOND EDITION, W.W. Norton & Company, New York, New York, 1995 First American Edition

 Lord, Walter

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER, Holt Rinehart and Winston, New York, New York, 1955. Multiple revisions and reprints, notably Illustrated editions (1976,1977,1978 etc.)

THE NIGHT LIVES ON, Willian Morrow and Company, New York, New York, 1986 (First Edition)

Lynch, Don & Marshall Ken, TITANIC AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY, Madison Press Books, Toronto, Ontario Canada, 1992

Internet

“Encylopedia Titanica,” https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/.

“The Titanic: Sinking & Facts | HISTORY.” HISTORY. Last modified March 26, 2026. https://www.history.com/articles/titanic.

The History Press. “Titanic’s Maiden Departure From Southampton – the History Press.” The History Press. Last modified May 15, 2024. https://thehistorypress.co.uk/article/titanics-maiden-departure-from-southampton/.

Videos

Titanic: Honor & Glory, “Titanic’s Southampton Departure – April 10th, 1912,” Video, YouTube, April 10, 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPIcz5lYiNI.

Titanic News Channel is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

History

Remembering History: Hitler and the Beer Hall Putsch (8-9 November 1923)

Munich Marienplatz during the failed Beer Hall Putsch (9 Nov 1923)
Photographer unknown
German Federal Archives via Wikimedia Commons

The end of World War I had left Germany in dire economic straits. The allies demanded reparations through the Versailles Treaty resulting in staggering inflation as Germany tried to pay. By 1923 the German mark was valued at four billion marks per dollar causing many who disliked the new democratic government to join the nationalist Nazi Party. Others were drawn the Nazi’s as well for their strong anti-communist views and their vocal dislike of Jews.

Adolf Hitler planned a coup in Bavaria that he hoped would spread and bring down the central government. On 8 November 1923, Hermann Goering surrounded the Munich beer hall where Bavarian officials were meeting with local business leaders. Hitler, with the aid of Nazi stormtroopers, charged into the hall with Hitler firing off a gun proclaiming the revolution has begun. The Bavarian officials decided to reluctantly support Hitler. However, the following day they would rescind that support and ordered troops to surround the Nazi forces that had taken control of the War Ministry building. Hitler decided to lead a March to the center of Munich. He had 3,000 marchers with him to 100 or more policemen blocking them. Shots were fired and 16 Nazis and 3 policemen were killed. Goering was wounded the groin and Hitler had a dislocated shoulder and managed to escape.

Defendants in the Munich Beer Hall Putsch, 1 April 1924
Photographer: Heinrich Hoffmann (1885–1957)
Source: German Federal Archives via Wikimedia Commons

The Beer Hall Putsch collapsed, and Hitler was arrested. He was charged with treason and sentenced to 5 years in jail. During his time in the Landsberg fortress, he wrote his autobiography Mein Kampf. Political pressure on the Bavarian government got his sentence commutated and he ended up serving only nine months in jail. The Nazi movement would continue to grow in strength in the 1920’s gaining more support against the Weimar government, Communism and Jews. The Beer Hall Putsch would be remembered by the Nazi Party.  Although they lost, they used it for propaganda purposes and celebrated the heroes of that day.

Sources

“Beer Hall Putsch | Facts, Summary, & Outcome,” Encyclopedia Britannica, last modified November 1, 2025, accessed November 3, 2025, https://www.britannica.com/event/Beer-Hall-Putsch.

“Beer Hall Putsch Begins | November 8, 1923 | HISTORY,” HISTORY, last modified May 28, 2025, accessed November 3, 2025, https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/november-8/beer-hall-putsch-begins..

History

Today is Christopher Columbus Day (Observed)

Christopher Columbus (done after his death in 1506)
Sebastiano del Piombo (1485–1547)
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

Today is Columbus Day in the United States.  Celebrating Columbus began in 1792 in New York City and became an annual tradition.  As a result of 11 Italian immigrants being murdered by a mob in New Orleans in 1892, President Benjamin Harrison declared Columbus Day as a one-time national celebration. This was also part of a wider effort to ease tensions and to placate Italian Americans and Italy, which had expressed official dismay at the murders. Italian Americans began using Columbus Day to not only celebrate Columbus but their heritage as well.

Serious lobbying was undertaken to enshrine the holiday in states and ultimately the federal government. Colorado proclaimed it a holiday in 1905 and made it an official holiday in 1907. In 1934 after lobbying from the Knights of Columbus and New York City Italian leader Generoso Pope, Congress passed a statute requiring the president to proclaim October 12 as Columbus Day each year and asked Americans to observe it with “appropriated ceremonies” in schools, churches, and other places. However, it was a not yet a federal holiday. The effort to make it a federal holiday began in 1966 when the National Columbus Day Committee lobbied to make it a federal holiday. This was achieved in 1968 and has been a federal holiday since then.

Like most federal holidays, it is often celebrated on a Monday of the week the date it falls on. The exception being if falls on a Saturday, it would be celebrated on Friday.

Columbus is recognized for his discovery of the New World. He, like many, were eager to discover the riches of Cathay, India, and Japan. Since the Ottoman Empire closed off using Egypt and the Red Sea to Europeans (land routes were closed as well), European explorers were eager to find a sea route. Columbus (and he was not the only one) held the belief that by sailing west they would be able to get to the Indies. While many educated Europeans (like Columbus) believed the Earth was round, they had no concept of how it big it really was. Thus, they thought East Asia was closer than it was.

After securing financing from the Spanish monarchy, Columbus set sail on 3 August 1492 with three ships-Santa Maria, the Pinta and the Nina–from Palos, Spain. On 12 October 1492 land was sighted. They would find Cuba later and Columbus thought it was Japan. They landed on Hispaniola in December and left a small colony behind. Returning to Spain in 1493, he was received with high honors by the Spanish court.

Map of the first voyage of Christopher Columbus, 1492-1493. Modern place names are in black, Columbus’s place names are in blue.
Keith Pickering (28 Nov 2011)
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

Columbus would lead four expeditions to the New World exploring the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, and South and Central American mainland. His original goal of finding a western ocean route to Asia was never accomplished. And he likely never truly understood the full scope of what he had accomplished. The New World–North America, the Caribbean, Central and South America–would open new opportunities for exploration and wealth. Spain would become one of the wealthiest and powerful nations on Earth as a result.

Sea travel of great distances in the 15th century was quite a challenge, fraught with all kinds of uncertainty and dangers. They had to depend on the wind, current and favorable weather, and the stars. The sextant had not been invented yet, so they used a procedure called Dead Reckoning. This required the use of simple arithmetic and process to determine their location. A long rope was used, a piece of wood, an hourglass, and a compass. The navigator would record in a logbook the daily speed and direction. The rope was knotted every four to six feet along its length. Arithmetic tells us that distance traveled in a single direction can be measured by multiplying the speed with the time. You might have done some of this in grade school. A car traveling at 30 miles per hour for two hours would travel 60 miles (speed x 2). A navigator would log the speed, direction, and time in the log. In this way they could measure the distance traveled to and from where they departed from. Changes in wind speed and other things would be recorded as well. Columbus used his own version, gained from experience sailing, of determining the speed and direction to enter in his log. He could feel the keel moving through the water and with his sense of the wind, knew what the speed of his ship was.

It was a remarkable and historic undertaking. Long sea voyages were often avoided because you were away for years at a time and dependent a great deal on nature to survive. And there was the terrible specter of scurvy. Many would die on long sea voyages from this scourge, which came from the lack of vitamin c in the diet. Fresh water in kegs often wet bad after a month, so beer and spirits (often rum), was where you got water from. Fruits and vegetables would only last so long, and meat had to be cured for long term use. So, food was rationed carefully. Later when it was realized that having citrus would alleviate this condition, sailors would get lime or lemon juice as part of their daily food ration. It became so common on British Royal Navy ships the sailors were called Limeys.

Italians and Spanish are rightly proud of his accomplishment. Others had touched upon America (the Vikings for one) prior to Columbus but none had opened the door as he did to a new part of the world that had been undiscovered. Like all our accomplished heroes of the past, he had his faults. In fact, not one hero you can point to doesn’t have faults. The ancient Greeks knew this and what defined a hero was someone who rose above them to do something extraordinary. The Greek hero Heracles (Hercules in Latin) had all kinds of faults but did things that rose above them. Columbus should be remembered for the courage, bravery, and fortitude to sail over the horizon to see what lay beyond. It would change the world and end the Venetian and Ottoman control of trade to the East forever. Columbus died on 20 May 1506. Gout was considered the cause of his death, but doctors today believe it was reactive arthritis.

Sources

Flint and Valerie IJ, “Christopher Columbus | Biography, Nationality, Voyages, Ships, Route, & Facts,” Encyclopedia Britannica, last modified October 11, 2025, accessed October 12, 2025, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Christopher-Columbus.

“Christopher Columbus – Facts, Voyage & Discovery | HISTORY,” HISTORY, last modified October 9, 2025, accessed October 12, 2025, https://www.history.com/articles/christopher-columbus.

Rafael Ortiz, “Christopher Columbus Was 100% Italian,” last modified July 29, 2025, accessed October 12, 2025, https://www.christophercolumbusthehero.com/2025/07/christopher-columbus-was-100-italian.html.

“Christopher Columbus: Man and Myth – 1492: An Ongoing Voyage | Exhibitions – Library of Congress,” accessed October 12, 2025, https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/1492/columbus.html.

Hunter Reardon, “Restored Columbus Statue From Richmond Finds New Home in New York,” Biweekly Newspaper for the Diocese of Richmond, last modified November 1, 2024, accessed October 12, 2025, https://catholicvirginian.org/news/restored-columbus-statue-finds-new-home-in-new-york/.

History

Battle of Lake Erie (10 Sept 1813)

Battle of Lake Erie by William Henry Powell (1823–1879)
U.S. Senate Art Collection, U.S. Capitol, Washington D.C.
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

 During the War of 1812, control over Lake Erie and the Northwest were crucial to both the British and the United States. The War of 1812 between the British and the United States resulted from simmering tensions between the two since the end of the American War of Independence. Though long over by this time, tensions existed between the two.  The British had attempted to restrict U.S. trade. During the Napoleonic Wars, the U.S. was neutral, but the British were not happy with American merchant ships supplying the French with supplies. Another issue was the forced impressment of American seamen. To fill out their crews, the British Royal Navy would stop merchant ships and take some of their crews forcing them into Royal Navy service. Additionally, tension over the U.S. desire to expand its territory led to clashes with the British as well.

These and other things led President James Madison to declare war on Great Britain on 18 June 1812. While it passed Congress (barely), it was not popular in New England since they heavily relied on trade. Western and Southern states generally supported the war. However, the realities of war would soon set in. The attempt to take Canada was a failure and resulted in a humiliating defeat on 16 August 1812 with Detroit being surrendered without firing a shot. The American Navy was aided early on with the fact the British were also fighting Napoleon so not all their ships were committed. One notable naval battle was at Lake Michigan in 1813. At stake in this battle was control of Detroit, Lake Erie, and nearby territories the U.S had claims on.

The American naval forces were led by Captain Oliver Hazard Perry, who had nine ships. The British had six warships led by Commander Robert Heriot Barclay. Barclay was an experienced naval officer who had served under Nelson at Trafalgar. The British were armed with long gun cannons that gave them a range of about a full mile, while the Americans used carronades that had half the range of the British cannons. This meant that Perry would inflict a lot of damage but at closer range. At first the wind was against Perry in the morning and then shifted giving him an advantage. He would raise a famous navy-blue banner written with the words “DON’T GIVE UP THE SHIP” as the slogan to rally his officers.

The ensuing battle would last for hours, and Perry would lose his flagship Lawrence. He transferred his flag over to the Niagara and then sailed straight into the British line firing broadsides that ultimately gave him the win when they surrendered. Perry lost 27 sailors and 96 wounded, while the British lost 40 dead and left with 94 wounded. Perry sent a famous dispatch to U.S. General William Henry Harrison that said, “We have met the enemy, and they are ours.” The British were forced to abandon Detroit after the Battle of the Thames resulting in American control of the area.

Aftermath

The victory was an important one when many battles had gone against the United States. The Royal Navy was still fighting Napoleon so not of its navy was committed to North America. This would change in April 1814 when Napoleon was defeated. With both ships and troops now freed up, they raided Chesapeake Bay and moved on the capital of Washington D.C. burning it and other government buildings to the ground on 24 August 1814.

On 11 September 1814, the American navy defeated the British fleet at the Battle of Plattsburgh at Lake Champlain, New York. A furious battle at Fort McHenry in Baltimore took place on 13 September 1814 and withstood 25 hours of bombardment by the British navy. After the bombardment had ended, the Americans raised a large flag over the fort to show they had survived the bombardment. Seeing the flag being raised inspired Francis Scott Key to write a poem that later would be set to music called “Star Spangled Banner.” British forces withdrew and prepared to act against New Orleans. Negotiations for a peace settlement were undertaken not long after in Ghent (modern day Belgium). The resulting Treaty of Ghent would abolish the taking of American sailors from merchant ships for British naval service, solidify the borders of Canada as we know them today, and end British attempts to create an Indian state in the Northwest. The treaty was signed on Christmas Eve, 1814. Formal ratification would be in February 1815.

It was during this time that the famous Battle of New Orleans would occur. On 8 January 1815, British forces (unaware of the peace deal yet due to slow communications of the time) launched a major attack on New Orleans. General Andrew Jackson led the Americans in this famous battle and defeated the British soundly. News of the battle was another boost to American morale and likely convinced the British that they were right to get out of this war as well. For Canadians and Native Americans, it ended their attempt to govern themselves. For Americans, it ushered in a new time of good feelings ending the partisan divisions that had grown since the Revolutionary War. National self-confidence would ensue and a growing spirit of expansionism that would shape the rest of the 19th century. The country resulting from it would be comprised of states and territories that went from New York on the Atlantic Ocean to San Francisco on the Pacific making it one of the largest countries in the world.

Sources

“War of 1812 – Winner, Summary & Causes | HISTORY,” HISTORY, last modified May 28, 2025, accessed September 9, 2025, https://www.history.com/articles/war-of-1812.

“The Battle of Lake Erie | September 10, 1813 | HISTORY,” HISTORY, last modified May 27, 2025, accessed September 9, 2025, https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/september-10/the-battle-of-lake-erie.

“Lake Erie,” American Battlefield Trust, accessed September 9, 2025, https://www.battlefields.org/learn/war-1812/battles/battle-lake-erie.

“Oliver Hazard Perry: 23 August 1785 – 23 August 1819,” Naval History and Heritage Command, last modified June 20, 2024, accessed September 9, 2025, https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/people/historical-figures/oliver-hazard-perry.html.

“The Battle of Lake Erie – Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial (U.S. National Park Service),” accessed September 9, 2025, https://www.nps.gov/pevi/learn/historyculture/battle_erie_detail.htm.

 

 

History

Great Fire of Rome (18 Jul 64 AD)

The Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD was the most destructive fire for the ancient city of Rome.

The Fire of Rome, 18 July 64 AD by Hubert Robert (1733–1808)
1785
Public Domain (US) via Wikimedia Commons

Rome was a metropolis in 64 AD where approximately one million people lived. Originally starting near the Tiber River, the city had grown and expanded to encompass much of what is called Rome today. Because much of the city was built near the river, it was prone to flooding. This happened frequently resulting in major floods where many parts of Rome were underwater.

Aside from that occasional blight, fires were not uncommon either. Since most people lived in poorly constructed wooden apartments, fires were common. Often small areas or neighborhoods might go up but there was no equivalent of a modern fire department. Instead, a small group established by the Emperor Augustus carried buckets to help put out fires. However, once a fire got too large there was nothing that could be done.

Since Rome had very narrow streets and houses close together, fires could become serious quickly. This also meant crowded streets and Romans generally walked on the raised sidewalks as the streets themselves were quite filthy from horse and human waste. Since few had a sewer opening in their home, they had to hand carry the waste containers to the nearest sewer opening. Most people just dumped it into the street adding an additional hazard to walking as the contents of the pot or even the pot itself might hit people passing below. Romans cleverly built raised stones to allow crossing streets to avoid stepping onto the street itself. Those who traveled in raised litters had perfumed liners to mitigate the stench, which was very strong during the warm summers.

On the evening of 18 Jul 64, a fire broke out in the slums south of Palatine Hill. It was likely started by a tipped over oil lantern. The burning olive oil would start a small fire that if left unintended probably grew fast due the wood providing fuel. With winds and the closeness of homes, the fire grew larger before realized how serious it was. The fire began spreading quickly consuming neighborhoods and whole districts. Rome was divided into 14 districts and soon every one of them would be impacted by the fires. Only three were spared the direct results of the fire (mostly those on the hills) but they were impacted as people were fleeing the fires in massive numbers. Hundreds died in the fires and thousands were left homeless. And the fire raged for nine days before it went out leaving the city in ruins.

The emperor Nero was away at the time the fire started and headed back to Rome. Contrary to both legends and myths, there is nothing to indicate he started the fire. Nor was he merrily playing his lyre while composing an ode to the fire. The famous idiom “Fiddling while Rome burns” was not accurate for Nero as the fiddle didn’t exist. Nero had started out his reign liked but by this time things had changed. He had murdered his mother, was known for his vanity, and spent a lot of time away from Rome doing things emperors didn’t do (acting, singing, participating in sports). Many had come to dislike him in the military, nobility and even the commoners.

Nero took steps to help those who lost their homes allowing the homeless to camp out in areas that normally were not allowed. And then he undertook the redesigning of Rome by widening streets to allow more people and carts to get through and put rules in place to prohibit the use of materials that caused fires. His megalomania would surface though when he wanted to rename Rome (Neropolis) and build a new palace. He had a bigger problem though as people were angry and resentful about what happened. And emperors, being the ones in charge, could be blamed when things went really awful. So, to distract them, he craftily spread the tale that Christians were responsible for setting the fires. And Christians were a small minority whose faith in an unseen god was disturbing to many. Also spread was the tale that Christians, in order to bring about the end of the world so that their god might return, burned the city to make it possible.

And it worked. Nero worked up the populace to believe that this minority sect was responsible for Rome’s recent destruction. There was absolutely no proof this was the case, but the anger against them worked. Christians were arrested and put to death in horrific ways, often in public spectacles where hungry lions or other animals were let loose to have at them. And Nero basked in the glory of being the one who was rebuilding Rome and dealing with those who had caused the fires.

Aftermath

Rebuilding saw Roman houses spaced out and built with brick. However, the immense cost of rebuilding drained the Roman treasury. This would lead to increased taxation and heavy tributes were placed on the provinces. Thinking it would help with costs, Nero devalued the currency, leading to inflation. The increased taxes and the devaluing of the currency led to an unsuccessful uprising in 65 AD with all the conspirators either killed or forced into suicide. In March 68, the governor of Gallia Lugdunensis revolted against Nero’s tax policies. Gaius Julius Vindex called for support from Servius Sulpicius Galba, the governor of Hispania Tarraconensis. Vindex’s revolt was put down and its commander, Lucius Verginius Rufus, was hailed by legions as the next emperor (he did not accept it). All of this led to instability for Nero as Galba started getting support. A key defection by the commander of the Praetorian Guard sealed his fate. Nero thought about going to Galba and ask for forgiveness but abandoned that idea.

The Praetorian Guard had abandoned the palace by this point and so he went out to the country to collect his thoughts. The senate declared him a public enemy and Nero prepared to die and had a grave dug for him. He was unable to take his own life and asked his secretary Epaphroditus to do it for him. He died on 9 June 68 AD which was greeted by cheering in Rome. It would be the end of the Judeo-Claudian line (Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero) and would usher in the Year of the Four Emperors. There would be Nero impostors as well claiming power. Vespasian was the last of the Four Emperors and would rule for 10 years and die in 79 AD. His rule restored political stability and established the Flavian dynasty that lasted for 27 years.

Sources

HISTORY.com Editors, “Nero’s Rome Burns | July 19, 64 | HISTORY,” HISTORY, last modified July 16, 2025, https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/July-19/neros-rome-burns.

“The Great Fire of Rome | Origins,” Origins, last modified July 1, 2024, https://origins.osu.edu/read/great-fire-rome.

The Vintage News, “Today in History: July 18th, 64 AD,” Thevintagenews, last modified July 16, 2025, https://www.thevintagenews.com/2025/07/16/july-18-64/.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Nero | Biography, Claudius, Rome, Burning, Fate, Accomplishments, & Facts,” Encyclopedia Britannica, last modified June 19, 2025, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nero-Roman-emperor#ref1265437.

“The Great Fire of Rome,” History Today, https://www.historytoday.com/archive/months-past/great-fire-rome.

“Nero,” Biography, September 24, 2020, https://www.biography.com/political-figures/nero.

Kate Zusmann, “Emperor Nero,” Rome.Us, last modified June 4, 2025, https://rome.us/roman-emperors/nero.html.

History

Bastille Day(14 July 1789)

The Storming of the Bastille by Jean-Pierre Houël (1735–1813)
National Library of France
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

On 14 July 1789, the storming of the Bastille, a formidable stone prison originally built to protect the eastern entrance to Paris, is considered the launch of the French Revolution and celebrated as a holiday in France. The prison often held political prisoners and was seen as a sign of tyranny. By this time in 1789, the prison only held seven prisoners none of whom were of a political nature. Four were charged with forgery and two were considered mad or lunatics. The Bastille was actually being scheduled for demolition to make way for public square.

France was facing economic and social problems. Louis XVI had inherited considerable debt from his predecessor but continued to spend (along with his wife Marie Antoinette) considerable sums of money further deepening government debt. Crop failures in 1788 led to a national famine and the cost bread prices to soar. Unemployment was a factor as well and many thought they had lost jobs due to lessening of customs duties with England (resulting in more jobs there than in France). With violent food riots breaking out, King Louis XVI tried to resolve it through the Estates-General (a national assembly of clergy, nobility and the common person).

While in theory all three were equal, two of the other parts could outvote the third. This left many deputies upset demanding a greater voice and proclaiming their own National Assembly. This would lead to the famous Tennis Court Oath of 20 June 1789 not to separate until they had a constitution. Many nobles and clergy crossed over to this National Assembly which Louis XVI gave consent to. His ordering of army regiments into Paris though made many fear he was going to break up the assembly by force. The dismissal of Jacques Necker, a non-noble minister for the government on 11 July, triggered massive protests and destruction of custom posts. Custom posts were hated as they imposed taxes on goods.

On 14 July a mob seized muskets and cannons from a military hospital and then decided to get more at the Bastille. The governor of the Bastille saw the mob and invited them in to discuss terms of surrender. Outside the crowd grew restless awaiting word and it is possible some thought the delegates had been arrested. A group climbed over the outer wall and climbed in to open the drawbridge to the courtyard. The governor broke his pledge not to fire and bullets rang out killing 100 outright leaving others wounded. The royals only lost one soldier. The arrival of the French Guards, sympathetic to the mob, would force the governor to surrender after having cannons blasting away at the Bastille. Without adequate provisions, he surrendered the Bastille. Some of the royalist troops would be butchered after the surrender. The governor was taken prisoner and beheaded by the mob.

Aftermath

The Bastille was dismantled, and its only prisoner later would be Louis XVI. He would be executed on 21 January 1793 along with his wife. The French Revolution, once thought a means to reform France into a constitutional monarchy, slid into a revolutionary government that completely overturned the ancien regime. During its tenure, it became increasingly bloody killing off enemies of the new order. Anyone who was thought to disagree with them could be denounced and executed. Instead of creating a better stable system, it became one long food riot as one professor said to me once. And the revolutionaries fought amongst themselves as to who was the better one to lead. That led to more bloody executions and the guillotine became the image of the French Revolution. Ultimately the people tired of this turmoil and wanted order. And it would come from Napoleon Bonaparte, but that is another story.

 

Sources

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Bastille Day | Definition, History, Traditions, Celebrations, & Facts,” Encyclopedia Britannica, last modified July 14, 2025, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Bastille-Day.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, “French Revolution | History, Summary, Timeline, Causes, & Facts,” Encyclopedia Britannica, last modified June 13, 2025, https://www.britannica.com/event/French-Revolution.

HISTORY.com Editors, “Bastille Day – Definition, Date & Facts | HISTORY,” HISTORY, last modified February 27, 2025, https://www.history.com/articles/bastille-day.

Suggested Reading

Clarke, S. (2019). The French Revolution and What Went Wrong. Arrow.

Davidson, I. (2018). The French Revolution. Pegasus Books.

Dickens, C. (1998). A Tale of Two Cities. Courier Corporation.

Doyle, W. (2018). The Oxford History of the French Revolution. Oxford University Press.

De Tocqueville, A. (2020). The State of Society in France Before the Revolution of 1789: And the Causes Which Led to That Event (H. Reeve, Trans.). Independently Published.

Palmer, R. R. (2017). Twelve Who ruled: The Year of Terror in the French Revolution. Princeton University Press.

Titanic News Channel is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

History

Remembering The 1932 Flight of Amelia Earhart (20 May 1932)

Amelia Earhart circa 1928
Public Domain (U.S. Library of Congress digital ID# cph.3a22092)

On 20 May 1932, five years after Charles Lindbergh made his famous solo nonstop flight from the U.S. to France, Amelia Earhart set out to be the first female aviator to accomplish the same feat. Unlike Lindbergh, Earhart was already well known before this flight. She gained fame in 1928 as part of a three-person crew to be the first woman to cross the Atlantic in an airplane. On that trip, she kept the plane’s log.

Early on 20 May 1932, her Lockheed Vega 5B took off from Harbour Grace, Newfoundland. She intended to replicate Lindbergh’s flight but encountered strong northerly winds, mechanical problems, and icy conditions. Instead of landing in France, she landed in a pasture at Culmore (north of Derry) in Northern Ireland. When asked by a farmhand how far she had flown, she famously said “From America.” Her feat received international acclaim. She received the Distinguished Flying Cross in the U.S., Cross of Honor of the Legion of Honor from France, and the Gold Medal from the National Geographic Society. Her fame allowed her develop friendships with many important and influential people such as First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Earhart would continue to make solo flights and set records.

Sadly, her next most famous mission would forever be shrouded in mystery. In 1937 she attempted–along with copilot Frederick Noonan–to fly around the world. On 2 Jul 1937, her plane disappeared near Howland Island in the South Pacific. Despite extensive searching by the US Navy and Coast Guard, no trace of the plane or its pilots were ever found. The search was called off on 19 July. Earhart was declared legally dead on 5 Jul 1939 so that her estate could pay bills. Since then, numerous theories as to what happened have been put forth. Many believe her plane either crashed and sank or that they landed on an island and perished awaiting rescue. Some intriguing evidence recovered in 2012 off Nikumaroro might be from their plane which supports the crash and sank hypothesis. More speculative theories have her being a spy for FDR or being captured and executed (along with Noonan) by the Japanese on Saipan (the area checked for the pilot’s bodies revealed nothing). A 1970 book claiming she had survived, moved to New Jersey, and changed her name to Irene Craigmile Bolam. There really was an Irene Bolam who had been a banker in New York in the 1940’s. She sued the publisher and obtained an out-of-court settlement. The book was taken off the market. National Geographic throughly debunked it in 2006 on Undiscovered History.

Sources

———. “Amelia Earhart Becomes the First Woman to Make Solo, Nonstop Transatlantic Flight | May 21, 1932 | HISTORY.” HISTORY. Last modified January 24, 2025. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/may-21/earhart-completes-transatlantic-flight.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Amelia Earhart | Biography, Childhood, Disappearance, & Facts.” Encyclopedia Britannica. Last modified April 30, 2025. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Amelia-Earhart.

Tyler Piccotti, “Amelia Earhart,” Biography, January 30, 2024, https://www.biography.com/history-culture/amelia-earhart.

History

The Great San Francisco Earthquake (18 April 1906)

Northeast View of Post & Grant Avenues, San Francisco, 18 April 1906
Public Domain (National Archives and Records Administration, ARC Identifier: 524396)

At 5:12 a.m. on 18 April 1906, Northern California was awakened by an earthquake that is now considered one of the most significant of all time. The epicenter was near San Francisco and the shaking lasted between 45-60 seconds. It was so powerful that it was felt from southern Oregon to Los Angeles and as far east as central Nevada. The intensity showed the clear difference between bedrock and sediment (or land filled) geology. Those that got the strongest shaking were in sediment filled areas rather than bedrock. Which explains why in San Francisco the damage was the most severe in those areas. Specifically it is the area called SOMA (South of Market or the old term south of the slot)where the greatest damage resulted. That area used to be part of San Francisco Bay but was filled in for more housing, commercial, and industrial uses. Houses and buildings were damaged or collapsed.

The train was standing on a siding. Beyond are the buildings of the Point Reyes Hotel, and at the extreme right the ruin of a stone store which was shaken down.Point Reyes Station, west Marin County, California. April 18, 1906
Image: G.K. Gilbert
Source: Photographs from the U.S. Geological Survey Photographic Library (CD-Rom)
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

Although San Francisco got a significant amount of damage, other areas were likewise damaged. Cities like Santa Rosa got hit hard(the entire downtown was destroyed) and many in the countryside suffered building or infrastructure damage as well. The magnitude of the quake was originally thought to be around 8.3 on the Richter scale. However others argue it was between 7.7 and 7.9 based on new interpretations of earthquake data. However you measure it, the earthquake was one of the most severe in the modern era. The earthquake not only destroyed buildings, injured scores and killing 3,000 (estimated) but caused the fires that made it much worse with water supply being severely limited by broken pipes. City leaders would claim later, to ensure people would come back to the city, that San Francisco was not destroyed by the earthquake but the fires. The truth was (and later researchers would learn this)how extensive the earthquake had been to San Francisco. The fires were a direct result of the earthquake and made a bad situation that much worse. The Army used dynamite to blow up areas to block fires. This usually is a good tactic to blow up ground to create firebreaks. This made it much worse since no one thought about the possibility of flying embers from blown up buildings causing more fires. Which is what happened and made it that much worse.

Today we look back at the old pictures but not really appreciate the total magnitude of the disaster. San Francisco rebuilt but continued its old ways for a long time. Buildings went up in the very areas worst hit by the earthquake with little attention to earthquake safety. But by the late 20th century that had changed as city leaders realized how damaging another 1906 type of quake would be to a modern city. New ordinances were passed and many of the taller buildings in San Francisco today in the Financial District were constructed to handle earthquakes.

Photograph of a collapsed facade of a building near Beach and Divisadero Streets in San Francisco October 1989
Photo: J.K. Nakata, United States Geological Survey
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

I learned this from being in one such building during the Loma Prieta Earthquake (17 Oct 1989 at 5:07pm). That earthquake was centered near Santa Cruz and measured 6.9, much less powerful than 1906. But it caused a lot of damage and some loss of life as well. The building I was in (since it is on landfill) was built to sway with the earthquake rather than remain locked in place. It was a weird experience to feel the building rock as it did but it survived just fine while a building across the street and built long before that standard had its top cave in. That building had to be torn down.

Some things did stay the same as 1906. There was little official guidance, mass transit was down, lots of cars stuck in traffic, and plenty of people milling about trying to figure out how to get home. I was lucky as I took a SamTrans bus to Daly City from the old Transbay Terminal. It was long bus ride that took close to 3 hours but I was grateful that bus was running. Those living in the East Bay would have to wait a good long while for BART to run again. And those that watched the World Series that night saw an earthquake live at old Candlestick Park.

Additional Information

The Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake (USGS)
San Francisco Earthquake, 1906(National Archives)
New S.F. archive includes stunning photos from 1906 quake(S.F. Chronicle,17 April 2015)
San Francisco earthquake and fire, April 18, 1906 (Library of Congress) 1906 film that shows the damage.
The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire (Bancroft Library Online Exhibit)

History, Titanic

Titanic History: Titanic Arrives Queenstown (Cobh) 11 April 1912

RMS Titanic pictured in Queenstown, Ireland 11 April 1912
Source:Cobh Heritage Centre, Cobh Ireland/Wikimedia Commons

RMS Titanic arrived at 11:30 am at Cork Harbour, which is on the south coast of Ireland. Cork Harbour is a natural harbour and a river estuary at the mouth of the River Lee in County Cork. It is considered one of the larger natural harbours in the world and has been used as a working port for centuries. Near the entrance is Roches Point, where its lighthouse has been guiding ships since 1817 (the original was replaced in 1835 and fully automated in 1995). Queenstown, like Cherbourg, did not have the dock facilities to handle a ship of Titanic’s size.

It was a relatively warm day with a brisk wind (and some clouds in the sky) as Titanic made its last European stop. The tenders America and Ireland were used to bring the 123 passengers aboard: 3 First Class passengers, 7 Second Class passengers, and 113 Third Class. There were seven people who disembarked at Queenstown who had booked passage from Southampton to Queenstown. Among those who disembarked was Francis Brown (later Father Francis Brown, S.J.) who was an avid photographer. His pictures taken aboard Titanic would be the last known photographs taken aboard ship. Kate Odell, another cross-channel passenger who got off in Queenstown, also took some photos as well.

Titanic would weigh anchor at 1:30 pm and begin her journey to New York. A picture of her leaving Queenstown would be the very last ever taken while she was afloat. She would not be photographed again until September 1985 when her wreck was discovered on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. Titanic was scheduled to arrive in New York on April 17.

Titanic Leaving Queenstown 11 April 1912. Believed to be the last photograph of ship before it sank.
Public Domain

[To be continued with next posting]

Sources

Books

Behe, George TITANIC: SAFETY, SPEED AND SACRIFICE, Transportation Trails, Polo, IL 1997

Behe, George (2012). On board RMS Titanic: Memories of the Maiden Voyage. The History Press.

Eaton John P. & Haas Charles, TITANIC TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY, SECOND EDITION, W.W. Norton & Company, New York, New York, 1995 First American Edition

Lord, Walter, A NIGHT TO REMEMBER, Holt Rinehart and Winston, New York, New York, 1955. Multiple revisions and reprints, notably Illustrated editions (1976,1977,1978 etc.)

Lord, Walter, THE NIGHT LIVES ON, Willian Morrow and Company, New York, New York, 1986 (First Edition)

Lynch, Don & Marshall Ken, TITANIC AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY, Madison Press Books, Toronto, Ontario Canada, 1992

Internet

Tikkanen and Amy, “Titanic | History, Sinking, Rescue, Survivors, Movies, & Facts,” Encyclopedia Britannica, last modified April 7, 2025, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Titanic.

Encyclopedia Titanica, last modified April 9, 2025, https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/.

History.com Editors, “The Titanic: Sinking & Facts | HISTORY,” HISTORY, last modified February 27, 2025, https://www.history.com/articles/titanic.

Titanic Historical Society, Inc., “Titanic Museum | Titanic Historical Society Collection,” Titanic Historical Society, Inc., last modified January 19, 2023, https://titanichistoricalsociety.org/titanic-museum/.

British Pathé, “Titanic: The Facts Told by Real Survivors | British Pathé,” Video, YouTube, August 1, 2011, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xKDRmhp6lQ.

Wikipedia contributors, “Titanic,” Wikipedia, last modified April 6, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanic#Collecting_passengers.

Titanic News Channel is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.