The Earth Did Quake

During the Good Friday earthquake, four minutes of violent shaking left much of downtown Anchorage in ruins, destroying many buildings, roads, and waterfront structures. On 4th Avenue, commercial buildings and pavement dropped as much as 15 feet. Some multi-story structures withstood the longer shaking, while others collapsed. The weekend that followed brought 55 strong aftershocks, some over 5.0 on the Richter scale, which kept residents on edge. Despite massive property damage, only nine people died in Anchorage because the time of day, moderate winter temperatures, and lack of subsequent fires kept the loss of life low. In 1964, the Alaskan Railroad was central to the state's transportation system, linking the south-central ports of Seward and Whittier with Anchorage. The earthquake changed its future forever: more than 200 miles of track were warped and twisted, 125 bridges and 110 culverts were crushed, 100 miles of rail bed were destroyed, and 225 pieces of rolling stock were lost. In Seward, railroad and port facilities suffered the earthquake's most destructive forces, as underwater slides carried parts of the railroad and waterfront dock to sea and later tsunamis and oil fires demolished much of what remained, leaving a 60-ton locomotive fused with two freight cars.

Anchorage, Alaska · United States