The morning of November 1, 1755, dawned with deceptive tranquility over Lisbon. The Portuguese capital stirred awake as church bells rang for All Saints’ Day, a solemn Christian holiday that drew thousands into cathedrals and chapels across the city. Families dressed in their finest clothes, candles flickered in prayerful devotion, and the cobblestone streets buzzed …
There are certain dates in history that refuse to be forgotten, not because they were chosen for celebration, but because something happened—so loud, so spectacular, so absurd, that the world had no choice but to listen. August 27 is one of those days. It is a date born of chaos and curiosity, destruction and delight. …
In the early hours of April 18, 1906, San Francisco was shaken awake by one of the most devastating earthquakes in American history. The ground rumbled violently as buildings crumbled, streets split open, and terrified residents fled into the chaos. The quake, estimated at a magnitude of 7.9, lasted less than a minute, but its …
March 11, 2011, is a day forever etched in Japan’s history—a day when the Earth shook with unimaginable force, and the ocean rose with devastating fury. At 2:46 PM local time, a massive 9.0-magnitude earthquake struck off the northeastern coast of Japan, making it one of the strongest quakes ever recorded. The shaking alone was …
