105th Anniversary of the SF Quake – Scene from Noe Valley

Tomorrow morning marks the 105^th Anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake (5:12 a.m. on April 18, to be exact). If you're wondering what it was like to be in Noe Valley during the Big One, neighborhood buildings were largely spared the quake damage and ensuing fires. But the 7.9 – 8.25 magnitude quake and aftershocks sent people around the city outdoors for days. This picture was taken after the 1906 quake on Valley Street.

For more photos of other parts of the city after the quake, the Chronicle reports that the SFMTA has released a trove of rare photos taken by John Henry Mentz, the photographer for United Railroads, the city's transportation operator at the time. Uptown Almanac has some of the best highlights here, including this astonishing one of City Hall.

[Photo: Greg Gaar Collection, via Foundsf.org]