In the winter of 1811 12, a series of large earthquakes in the new madrid seismic zoneoften incorrectly described as the biggest ever to hit the united stat. The new madrid, missouri earthquakes, 18111812 arizona. New madrid compendium eyewitness accounts ceri the. The 1811 1812 new madrid earthquakes were different from most california earthquakes because. When the new madrid earthquakes rattled the midwest in 1811 and 1812, william clark, of the lewis and clark expedition, convinced the government to step in.
The winter of 1811 12 experienced the greatest burst of seismic energy in the history of the original 48 states. This is an isoseismal map from otto nuttlis paper about the 1811 1812 sequence of three earthquakes that happened in new madrid. Did tecumseh predict the new madrid earthquakes of 18111812. New madrid the earthquakes of 1811 and 1812 youtube. From december 16, 1811 through march of 1812 there were over 2,000 earthquakes in the central midwest, and between 6,00010,000 earthquakes in the bootheel of missouri where new madrid is located near the junction of the ohio and mississippi rivers.
In fact, based on the records of a louisville, kentucky, resident named jared brooks, who built a series of pendulums to document the events, there were 1,874. A 19thcentury print of new madrid earthquake chaos. Based on accounts from the time, this book describes the effects of the 1811 1812 earthquakes in new madrid. This map shows 1811 12 uplift, subsidence and submergence. Im making an exception to this blogs focus on northwest earthquakes because i recently did an email discussion with jay feldman, who in 2005 wrote when the mississippi ran backwards, a book about the new madrid earthquakes of 1811 and 1812, and the anglo and indian cultures impacted by the quakes. And finally, i have a letter eliza bryan wrote to rev. Over the past 4,500 years, a number of major earthquakes of magnitude 7. Shortly after 2 oclock on the morning of december 16, 1811, the mississippi river valley was convulsed by an earthquake so severe that it awakened people in cities as distant at pittsburgh, pennsylvania, and norfolk, virginia. In particular, he predicts the new madrid earthquake s. Strange facts around new madrid earthquakes in 18111812.
I found this book provided me with good background information about the new madrid earthquakes of 1811 1812. Two additional earthquakes of similar magnitude followed in january and february 1812. An isoseismal map is one in which similarly felt seismic intensities are contoured so that you can see how far away different intensities of shaking were felt from the epicenter of the earthquake. New madrid earthquakes of 181112 possible causes of the. President james madison and his wife dolly felt them in the white house.
The new madrid earthquakes of 1811 1812 by norma hayes bagnall. Touch spots on map to read accounts of the devastation. I especially enjoyed the maps showing the original location and layout of the town. The new madrid earthquakes were centered in a plate interior. The new madrid earthquake of 18111812 hearthstone legacy. This is an unabridged reprint of the first book and first thorough scientific work ever published on the great new madrid earthquakes of 1811 12. Towards the end of the book, the author begins to describe tecumsehs prophecies, such as the prediction of an eclipse and the death of william henry harrison while he was in office. Eyewitness accounts of 1811 12 earthquakes many residents along the mississippi experienced vigorous ground shaking and wrote about it in 1811 and 1812. With the 200th anniversary of the first of the quakes upon us, i wanted to mark the.
Earthquake causes fluvial tsunami in mississippi history. The most famous new madrid earthquakes occurred from december 16, 1811, through february 7, 1812. The new madrid earthquakes of 18111812 missouri life. Scary phenomena that occurred during the new madrid. Norma bagnall describes the severe earthquake which changed the course of the mississippi river in several places, destroyed timberlands, drained swamps, and formed lakes. New madrid earthquakes of 18111812 encyclopedia of arkansas. A series of earthquakes hit the new madrid seismic zone of southeastern missouri, northeastern arkansas, and adjacent parts of tennessee and kentucky, in december 1811 to february 1812. The earthquakes and aftershocks caused extensive damage throughout northeast arkansas and southeast missouri, altering the landscape, affecting settlement of. This sequence of three very large earthquakes is usually referred to as the new madrid earthquakes, after the missouri town that was the largest settlement on the mississippi river between st.
The magnitude of each of the four major shocks exceeded m2 8. The new madrid earthquakes of 18111812 missouri heritage readers book 1 an amazon book with buzz. Feb 7 1812 new madrid earthquake felt in the carolinas. New madrid earthquakes of 1811 and 1812 genealogy trails. A mississippi river town in history and legend, published by southeast missouri state university press in 2009. These eyewitness accounts give a glimpse at what was seen and experienced by people as the earthuquakes occurred. Several destructive shocks occurred on february 7, the last of which equaled or surpassed the magnitude of any previous event. The best account of these fearful convulsions that could be obtained is given in the following letter, written to rev. The new madrid earthquakes of 18111812 missouri heritage readers on free shipping on qualified orders. Bicentennial of the 1811 1812 new madrid earthquake sequence december 20112012. Although most americans associate earthquakes with california, the tremors that shook the mississippi valley in southeast missouri from december 16, 1811, through february 7, 1812, are among the most violent quakes to hit the north american continent in recorded history. The series of new madrid earthquakes of 1811 1812 was one of the most dramatic natural disasters to strike the north american continent. The author gives a history of the region prior to the quakes, especially the town of new madrid.
A number of earthquakes that happened near the town of new madrid, in late 1811, and early 1812 are known as the 1811 12 new madrid earthquakes today. New madrid earthquakes of 181112 united states britannica. The new madrid earthquakes of 18111812 by james penick. By comparison, the 1906 san francisco earthquake affected only 60,000 square miles, less than onesixteenth the area of the new madrid earthquakes.
By correlating the isoseismal map with that of recent earthquakes for which ground motion data are available, the bodywave magnitude of the december 16, 1811 earthquake is estimated to be 7. The new madrid earthquakes of 1811 and 1812 chronicling. Three of the earthquakes are on the list of americas top earthquakes. A number of legends have grown around the new madrid earthquakes of 1811 1812, most notable being a story about the shawnee chief tecumseh, who attempted to unify native american tribes in response to encroachment by white settlers. These events include clusters of large earthquakes that have been dated to 2350 bce, 900 ce, and 1450 ce. The third principal earthquake of the 1811 1812 series. Summary of 18111812 new madrid earthquakes sequence. Lorenzo dow in 1816, describing the earthquake as eyewitness.
The mississippi valley earthquakes of 1811 and 1812. Inside page, 12 column of headlines and news of the new madrid, missouri earthquake. The new madrid earthquakes of 1811 1812 missouri heritage readers 9780826210548 by bagnall, norma hayes and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. New madrid earthquakes of 1811 12 new madrid earthquakes of 1811 12 possible causes of the new madrid earthquakes. Google earth map above shows approximate area of uplift of tiptonville dome. Dave, with toby by his side, remembers the 18111812 new madrid earthquakes by visiting reelfoot lake, kentucky bend, and other landforms shaped by the quakes 200 years ago. The distribution is consistent with avalue distri b bution. The city of new madrid, located near the mississippi river in present. The new madrid earthquake of 18111812 in 1811 and 1812 the inhabitants of new madrid district experienced a series of the most terrific earthquakes that have ever occurred on the american continent. New madrid earthquakes of 181112, series of three large earthquakes that occurred near new madrid, missouri, between december 1811 and february 1812. Photographer and artist david anton of santa fe, new mexico, interprets the new madrid quakes of 1811 12, for an original look at the devastating earthquakes in the book, new madrid.
The series of earthquakes that occurred along the new madrid fault system in 1811 and 1812 probably was as large as any earthquakes that ever occurred in eastern north america. Kentucky bend and the 18111812 new madrid earthquakes. Today we refer to this as the new madrid earthquake. How a trio of hellish earthquakes prompted americas first. The other principal shocks, on january 23, 1812 and february 7, 1812, had estimated m b. Strange happenings during the earthquakes new madrid, mo. This documentary tells the story of the historic earthquakes of 1811 and 1812 that struck near the town of new madrid, mo and proceeded to rattle a. The new madrid earthquakes took place between december 1811 and april 1812 along an active fault line that extends roughly from marked tree poinsett county in a northeasterly direction, crossing several states for about 150 miles. In louisville, kentucky, a man who had homemade recording instruments reported a total of 1,874 shocks between december 11, 1811, and march 16, 1812. Earthquakes of 18111812 new madrid, mo official website. This is a comprehensive scientific study of the seismic activity known as the new madrid earthquakes. Introduction the 1811 1812 new madrid earthquake sequence included. There were thousands of aftershocks, of which 1,874 were large enough to be felt in louisville, kentucky, about 190 miles 300 km away. Scientists believe that each of the three greatest tremors would have measured more than 8.