Here are 18 stereoscopic photos taken of San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake — immediately after the great fires ended. These photographs were apparently hand-colored at the time they were first printed.
Want to know more about the disaster? See the first news coverage of the earthquake here.
Down California St, from Fairmount Hotel, the fire-swept district of San Francisco
San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake: Wreck of the Magnificent Huntington and Flood Palaces and Fairmont Hotel
Effect of earthquake on Market Street Pavement. Ferry Bldg. Tower in distance, San Francisco
Gathering a few home relics at the ruins of the Wenban Palace, Van Ness Ave., San Francisco
A glimpse of the Fire Devastated Heart of San Francisco from the Huntington Palace on California Street
San Francisco’s magnificent City Hall and Hall of Records, destroyed by fire and earthquake
San Francisco’s Six-Million-Dollar City Hall, containing the Municipal Records wrecked by the earthquake
Showing devastation by earthquake and fire in the building containing the municipal records
The destruction of San Francisco, April 18, 1906, showing Market Street and Ferry Building Tower
The New Masonic Temple on Sutter Street
The temple was badly wrecked by the destruction after San Francisco’s 1906 earthquake
The ruins of streets and homes, of wrecked district at Van Ness and Vallejo Streets
The Union Ferry Station showing earthquake and fire devastated waterfront section
The utter destruction after San Francisco’s 1906 earthquake
As seen from the waterfront, Fairmount Hotel on Nob Hill in distance
The wreck of the beautiful St. Luke’s Church on Van Ness Ave., devastated by earthquake and fire
Wrecking dangerous walls in the shaken and burned district of San Francisco – April 18, 1906
A makeshift camp on the border of desolation and destruction after San Francisco’s 1906 earthquake
A row of earthquake-wrecked cottages on Steiner and Bush Streets
Bringing order out of chaos of San Francisco’s ruins – Opening up impassable streets
DON’T MISS: Old San Francisco, just before the 1906 earthquake: See vintage film footage from weeks before the disaster
