1964 Earthquake in Anchorage Alaska

Survivors of the 1964 earthquake in Anchorage Alaska, tell their stories.

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And hear the introduction from a survivor

5:36pm, Good Friday, March 27, 1964

The Earth Shook Violently for 5 Minutes

It was a peaceful afternoon, just like any other.

Schools were closed because of the holiday.

At 5:36 pm, as Anchorage was beginning to settle in for a quiet evening, the world turned upside down.

Suddenly, the earth started to shake.

At first, it appeared to be a quake similar to the ones that Anchorage experienced from time to time.

But it quickly became violent as it slammed, convulsed, and began ripping apart buildings, roads, and sidewalks.

The noise was deafening. It sounded like a powerful wind and a loud train as it roared by.

And there was no place to hide.

As it continued, it began to feel as though it would never end. That it would go on and on until the earth was but a memory.

Can you imagine how that must have felt?

Both Mike and Mary of Anchorage Memories are survivors of the 1964 earthquake, and their stories about what they experienced are horrifying and unreal.

“We were literally shaking to the core of our being. And what we saw, felt, and heard will never leave us.”

When it was finally over, the world learned that the earthquake was a magnitude 9.2 and that it had lasted an incredible 5-minutes.

The aftershocks were intense and terrifying.

Meet the Survivors

As you read the following stories, you'll meet people who were children, teens, or adults living in Anchorage when the earthquake struck on an otherwise quiet afternoon.

Through their stories, you will discover what they experienced.

1964 Earthquake in Anchorage Alaska

BONUS

While Anchorage has its fair share of earthquakes, the one on Good Friday, 1964 was much stronger and more destructive than any other one before or since. 

And those who experienced the terror and devastation first hand, still vividly recall their experiences – and always will.

Anchorage Memories wishes to thank all the survivors who contributed their stories.

What You Just Discovered

The 1964 Earthquake was a magnitude 9.2, or 35 times more powerful than the 1902 earthquake in San Francisco.

The shaking lasted nearly 5 minutes.

At the time, estimates of damage were somewhere around $500 million dollars. In today's dollars, we're looking at $4,787,255,806 and some change.

From reading the first-hand accounts on this page, written by survivors of the earthquake, you learned what they saw, heard and felt as the shaking continued.

Michele recalls the quake:

“I remember looking out their living room window and seeing the neighboring trees sway so violently that they seemed to touch the ground with each change in motion.

Those 5 long minutes of the earthquake seemed like an eternity. And the sound – so loud – like 100 freight trains going through your house.“

Eric has this memory:

“As we were making our way out through the small kitchen and out the back door, the house would sway and roll with the ground waves. It was difficult to stand up, much less walk.”

Jack remembers this:

“Someone hollered “earthquake” and everyone ran for the door. When I got out in the parking lot, the ground was really shaking and the cars that were parked there were being thrown around. All I could do was kneel, so I wouldn't fall.

I looked across the road just in time to see the Government Hill Elementary School split in half and drop into the ground. Thank God it was a holiday and the school was closed.”

Mike recalls his narrow escape:

“A huge brick smoke stack continued its violent and wild dance from left to right. And just as I wondered, “how could that smoke stack do that without falling apart?” the smoke stack crashed downward, blowing a laundry room to pieces.

Moments ago, I had considered making my way toward the laundry room for safety. Now it was a death trap.”

Memories of the 1964 Earthquake in Anchorage Alaska, live on.

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