Chilling photos of San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake and fires set the city ablaze

Nearly 3,000 people died from the quake and subsequent fires that spread through the urban sprawl. A majority of San Francisco residents were left homeless .
After the earthquake , Louis P. Selby, a local amateur photographer, took to the streets to document the aftermath. Those photos, and others, were preserved in the National Archives ,
More than a century after the tragedy, Selby's photos were released to the public .

In the early hours of the morning on April 18, 1906, Americans in the San Francisco Bay Area woke amidst an earth-shattering quake. While the 7.8 magnitude earthquake only lasted a minute, it ruptured296 miles of California's coastline, andits consequences devastated the region.

Some 500 city blocks with more than 25,000 buildings were destroyed, and rampant fires spread through the city and burned for three days. More than half of city residents were left homeless, and 3,000 people died in the shaking and subsequent fires.

Louis P. Selby, an amateur photographer, was working in his family's confectionery shop on Market Street when the greatest natural disaster that ever hit San Francisco occurred. Selby grabbed a camera and took to the streets to document the aftermath of the 1906 earthquake.

More than a century later, Selby's grandson published the never-before-seen photos in a book: " When San Francisco Burned: A Photographic Memoir of the Great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906 ."

Here's what happened in San Francisco 103 years ago, shot through the lens of a local confectioner.

The 1906 earthquake that struck San Francisco had a rough magnitude of 7.8 and ranks as one of the most significant earthquakes of all time because of the damage it caused.

BusinessInsider USA Images

"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist

Source: National Archives

Even though the quake was only a minute long, it caused irreparable damage to the city. San Francisco's City Hall was decimated.

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National Archives

Some 500 city blocks with more than 25,000 buildings were destroyed.

BusinessInsider USA Images

National Archives

Massive fires followed the earthquake and swallowed entire city blocks whole.

BusinessInsider USA Images

National Archives

Source: National Archives

The tremors broke the city's water mains, making it nearly impossible for firefighters to quell the spreading blazes.

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"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist

Source: HISTORY

The fires burned for several days. By the time they'd been brought under control, more than half of San Francisco's 400,000 population were left homeless.

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"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist

Source: National Archives and HISTORY

Most residents escaped the fires with just the clothes on their back. The rich and the poor alike were hungry, thirsty, filthy, and distressed unable to contact their families.

BusinessInsider USA Images

"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist

Some earthquake refugees had to take shelter in military-run camps outside the city.

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National Archives

An Army general based in San Francisco later wrote that the city had "in 48 hours, not only been relegated to conditions of primitive life, but were also hampered by ruins and debris."

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"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist

Source: Earthquake in California

The public desperately needed drinking water, so engineers began working on a backup system on day one. The US Navy brought water and milk on ships.

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"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist

Relief stations were also set up by the US Navy and Army to distribute blankets, tents, and food. Here we see soldiers giving handouts in Jackson Square Park.

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"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist

Refugees waited in long lines for bread. Cooking indoors was forbidden to help mitigate the risk of spreading fires.

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"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist

Source: National Archives

Looting became an issue. People ran into burning buildings and rummaged through the rubble.

BusinessInsider USA Images

"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist

Source: National Archives

Souvenir hunters scavenged through the wreckage for items to salvage and sell.

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National Archives

Three thousand people died in the aftermath of the earthquake and subsequent fires.

BusinessInsider USA Images

"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist

Source: National Archives

People took shelter in tents and small wooden cottages, which became known as "earthquake shacks," in city parks and in the Presidio. Meanwhile, aid flowed in from around the world.

BusinessInsider USA Images

"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist

Source: National Archives

Surprisingly, San Francisco bounced back quickly. The wipeout gave city planners an opportunity to build better, safer infrastructure.

BusinessInsider USA Images

"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist

Source: HISTORY

The earthquake of 1906 remains the most devastating disaster San Francisco has ever seen... for now.

BusinessInsider USA Images

"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist

There's more than a 75% chance that the San Francisco Bay Area will experience a magnitude 7.0 earthquake within the next 30 years, according to experts from the US Geological Survey.

Melia Robinson contributed to an earlier version of this story.

Chilling photos of San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake and fires set the city ablaze

The 1906 earthquake that struck San Francisco had a rough magnitude of 7.8 and ranks as one of the most significant earthquakes of all time because of the damage it caused.

Even though the quake was only a minute long, it caused irreparable damage to the city. San Francisco's City Hall was decimated.

Some 500 city blocks with more than 25,000 buildings were destroyed.

Massive fires followed the earthquake and swallowed entire city blocks whole.

The tremors broke the city's water mains, making it nearly impossible for firefighters to quell the spreading blazes.

The fires burned for several days. By the time they'd been brought under control, more than half of San Francisco's 400,000 population were left homeless.

Most residents escaped the fires with just the clothes on their back. The rich and the poor alike were hungry, thirsty, filthy, and distressed unable to contact their families.

Some earthquake refugees had to take shelter in military-run camps outside the city.

An Army general based in San Francisco later wrote that the city had "in 48 hours, not only been relegated to conditions of primitive life, but were also hampered by ruins and debris."

The public desperately needed drinking water, so engineers began working on a backup system on day one. The US Navy brought water and milk on ships.

Relief stations were also set up by the US Navy and Army to distribute blankets, tents, and food. Here we see soldiers giving handouts in Jackson Square Park.

Refugees waited in long lines for bread. Cooking indoors was forbidden to help mitigate the risk of spreading fires.

Looting became an issue. People ran into burning buildings and rummaged through the rubble.

Souvenir hunters scavenged through the wreckage for items to salvage and sell.

Three thousand people died in the aftermath of the earthquake and subsequent fires.

People took shelter in tents and small wooden cottages, which became known as "earthquake shacks," in city parks and in the Presidio. Meanwhile, aid flowed in from around the world.

Surprisingly, San Francisco bounced back quickly. The wipeout gave city planners an opportunity to build better, safer infrastructure.

The earthquake of 1906 remains the most devastating disaster San Francisco has ever seen... for now.

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