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San Francisco in the aftermath of the earthquake and fire of April 18, 1906. "Up Market Street from Montgomery Street." 8x10 glass negative. View full size.
I don't believe anyone has mentioned the orange building in the modern +103 photograph. It's also in the old photo; third building on the right.
[That's the de Young Building, erected in 1890 and whose façade underwent restoration ten years ago. -tterrace]
Recently-discovered natural color post-earthquake photos from The Smithsonian:
Amazing video. The comparison of the two side by side was very interesting. What got me me the most was the seemingly utter disregard for personal safety when crossing the street. They apparently had little traffic control back then too. I saw at least two occasions when cars looked to be going in opposite directions ... on the same side of the street.
The boy who ran out in front of the cable car and zigzagged back and forth in front of it while looking back, grinning, was amazing, as were the ones who grabbed onto the rear of a passing motor car.
That video was amazing. In studying Shorpy photos I've always been struck by the lack of concern people had for safety back then. But to see how they walked and drove is even more alarming. It's amazing our ancestors lived past 30.
Holy cow! Look at the proboscis on the puzzled man. He must be an elder of the Durante clan.
The barbecued mini-flatiron Crocker building did survive, but was demolished in the 1960s. The one on the site in the +103 photo is McKesson Plaza at 1 Post St., opened in 1969.
I have to say, this was a drastic way to accomplish a pedestrian mall conversion.
I would say a large majority are striding forward with their heads up. I find that admirable, especially in an area of tall buildings which must be susceptible to the next tremor.
On another subject: I like this man's picture. It seems to be the epitome of puzzlement.
Looks like the mini Flatiron Building made it through intact.
[Aside from being barbecued. No windows. - Dave]
However, it was still standing.
The tall building with the fancy dome on the left is the Call Building, still there in the +103 shot, but having been de-domed and Moderne-ized in 1938. San Francisco's first skyscraper.
After the tremors, people hit the streets like zombies in a George Romero movie.
Here's a before/after video going down Market Street. At the 1:13 mark you can see the Postal Telegraph tent on the left in the after video.
Below is the same perspective (looking southwest on Market from Montgomery) taken in September of 2009.
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