Old Images of Santa Rosa, Califonia

Bird's eye view of Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California, 1876

Glimpse history through old images of Santa Rosa, California, in the USA.

Earthquake of 1906

On Wednesday April 18 1906, at 5.12 a.m., the coast of Northern California was struck by a major earthquake with an estimated moment magnitude of 7.9.

Santa Rosa’s entire downtown collapsed. Although the number of fatalities was surprisingly small given the damage, for the next few years the population growth was slow.

Old photo of Fourth St looking East from B, Santa Rosa, California after earthquake, April 18th 1906. Image: Hosmer, W. S., photographer, archived at the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.

Old photo of the Santa Rosa flour mill after the famus Californian earthquake of April 18th 1906; Santa Rosa, California. Image: Hosmer, W. S., photographer, archived at the Library of Congress.

Luther Burbank

Luther Burbank bought a four acre plot of land on the southern edge of Santa Rosa in 1885.

He built a greenhouse just south of his house in 1889, and spend the next four decades working as a nurseryman and horticulturist.

After he died in 1926, his wife Elizabeth remodelled both the residence, greenhouse, and surroundings.

Elizabeth died in 1977, when the residence passed to the city of Santa Rosa.

Old Photo of the Luther Burbank House, 200 Santa Rosa Avenue, Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, CA. Image: Historic American Buildings Survey (Library of Congress).

Old photo of fruitful spineless cactus, Luther Burbank's experimental grounds, Santa Rose, California, taken in the early 1900s — Old photo of fruitful spineless cactus, Luther Burbank’s experimental grounds, Santa Rose, California, taken in the early 1900s. Image: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.

History of Santa Rosa

History of Santa Rosa – Historical Society of Santa Rosa on YouTube

More about California

California Gold Rush Facts

Click to Page: Old Images of California

About the author

Hi, I’m Debbie. I’ve enjoyed books, films, and documentaries about history for more than 30 years. My favourite trips with friends and family are to museums, historic houses, archaeological sites, and I love unearthing old photos and archive film bringing history to life.

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