Rumors Of Great Disaster Exhibition
2006 was the centennial of the Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire and in recognition the California State Capitol Museum developed Rumors of Great Disaster: The Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. The exhibit featured dramatic photographs, original accounts of survivors, memorabilia, and artifacts from the earthquake and firestorm. As part of the exhibition, we also created a 3-D movie called '06: The Big One.
The Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire was one of the most devastating urban disasters in United States history. The exhibit explored the geology of the earthquake area, the initial devastation caused by the actual earthquake, and the great conflagration that followed, engulfing dozens of city blocks and causing even greater destruction and loss of life than the earthquake itself.
Also highlighted were San Francisco's chaotic evacuation, the response by Federal and State governments, support from local communities and private enterprise, plus the city's lengthy recovery and its massive rebuilding efforts.
Download Rumors of Great Disaster Poster (pdf 1.02 mb)
In '06: The Big One, viewers had the opportunity to experience the horror "up close and personal" as the ground splits open, buildings crumble, and fire consumes the great city. This documentary thriller, which premiered 100 years from the date of the earthquake (April 18, 1906), provided modern audiences with an unforgettable look back at what remains the State's greatest-ever natural disaster.
'06:The Big One 3-D Movie was shown in the State Capitol Museum Theater, located in the basement of the California State Capitol building in Sacramento.
Our stereoscopic 3-D film '06: The Big One was sponsored by the California State Legislature and California State Parks, and was developed by the staff of the California State Capitol Museum.
The Capitol building is ADA compliant with an "electronic access" door on the 11th and N Street entrance.
(Pictured above:
San Francisco ground fissure along cable car rails. Photo courtesy of the California History Room, California State Library, Sacramento, California)
Photos Courtesy of the California History Room, California State Library
Sacramento, California
The California State Capitol Museum is operated by California State Parks under contract to and supported by the California State Legislature. Open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for guided and self-guided tours of the Capitol Building and its extensive outdoor gardens. The Museum is located in the California State Capitol, in downtown Sacramento on 10th Street between L and N Streets. For more information call (916) 324-0333.