Massive Panaramic Photograph of San Francisco After Devastating 1906 Earthquake

This panorama of San Francisco in ruins about six weeks after an earthquake and subsequent fire was taken by George R. Lawrence using a kite, on Monday 28th May 1906.

The 1906 earthquake in San Francisco was a 7.9 magnitude earthquake whose epicenter was located only a couple miles from San Francisco. The enormous magnitude and close proximity to the city resulted in one of the largest natural disasters in American history. The death toll from the event, estimated to be well into the thousands (though official numbers have often been contested due to cover-ups and lost records) is the single worst loss of life from a natural disaster in California’s history.


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Download the huge 158MB file here

 Lawrence's camera

Lawrence's hand-built, 49-pound panoramic camera suspended from a series of Conyne kites.

A few weeks after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, George Lawrence captured a remarkable image of the sprawling ruins using his captive airship a hand-built, 49-pound panoramic camera suspended from a series of Conyne kites. To honor George Lawrences feat, and to commemorate the centennial of the 1906 earthquake, Scott Haefner re-shot Lawrence's panorama in collaboration with Drachen Foundation.






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Photographer George Raymond Lawrence (February 24, 1868 – December 15, 1938)