At 6:44 a.m. on June  29, 1925, a powerful earthquake devastated Santa Barbara, killing 11 people and destroying or damaging much of downtown.

It was a pivotal moment in Santa Barbara’s history because, out of the debris emerged the Spanish revival city of today.

A commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the 1925 Santa Barbara earthquake and its aftermath will be celebrated with a variety of events and symbolic activities coordinated by The EQ25 Alliance.

The alliance is made up of charitable and historical organizations, businesses, governmental agencies, and Santa Barbara residents, under the umbrella of The Santa Barbara Conservancy, a local nonprofit.

“The 100th anniversary of the June 29, 1925, Santa Barbara earthquake offers a unique opportunity for Santa Barbara to learn from our past, reflect on our present, and plan for our future,” said Steve Hausz, a member of the EQ25 steering committee. “It is a recognition of our community and its resilience.”

Activities begin in April with a kickoff event, exhibits and lectures. On Saturday June 28, QuakeFest, taking place on State Street between Figueroa and Anapamu streets, will be a community street fair with entertainment, exhibits, displays, workshops and surprises.

Any and all community groups are encouraged to participate. To evoke the spirit of the 1920s, the Alliance encourages guests to dress in the style of the time as they peruse SB Earthquake-related booths, ride the earthquake simulator, learn about the history of the quake and enjoy 1920s era refreshments and entertainment.

An outdoor projection show of the earthquake itself will take place in the evening. Those who want to participate with an exhibit or activity at QuakeFest can email the Alliance at EQ25org@gmail.com and an application will be provided.

Please include the name of the organization and best contact email and phone number.

On Sunday June 29 (the earthquake anniversary date) will be marked by more somber events and activities including the unveiling of a commemorative plaque and a ceremony at the Santa Barbara Mission.

At noon, church bells across town will ring 11 times in remembrance of our fellow citizens who perished in the earthquake. 

In addition to joining QuakeFest, part of the EQ25 Alliance’s mission is to encourage other organizations to commemorate the 1925 earthquake centennial in other ways.

Ideas include integrating earthquake themes into existing events and fundraisers or creating new events to commemorate the anniversary throughout the year, with informative and entertaining programs, exhibit, and community gatherings.

All activities will be posted on the EQ25.org website events page.

Community groups that have already begun to plan their own earthquake-related events, include the Pearl Chase Society, Santa Barbara Historical Museum, Santa Barbara Mission, Santa Barbara Genealogical Society, city of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management, Search Dog Foundation, and the American Institute of Architects-Santa Barbara Chapter.

To include an event on the EQ25 event page, email the Alliance with details with appropriate contact and any necessary registration information to EQ25org@gmail.com

The 1925 earthquake

The cataclysm occurred early in the morning on June 29, 1925, when a 6.3 earthquake ripped through Santa Barbara.

About 15% of the commercial buildings downtown were destroyed or had to be demolished; the remainder were either damaged but repairable or unharmed.

The event created the opportunity to repair destroyed or damaged structures in Spanish Colonial Revival style that remains to this day, while residential areas suffered no worse damage than toppled chimneys or cracked foundations.

Tragically, 11 people died in the quake, and the city suffered $8 million of property damage (equivalent to about $139 million in 2023, according to the U.S. Geological Survey).

Aftershocks rumbled through the city for the rest of the summer, forcing many residents to spend nights sleeping outdoors.

Clean-up and rebuilding began almost immediately, prompting a decade-long reinvention project.

Individuals or organizations that have ideas, questions, or would like to become an event sponsor, should email EQ25org@gmail.com.  

For more information, visit www.EQ25.org.