On Good Friday in 1964, the state of Alaska was devastated by the second largest earthquake ever recorded with an estimated magnitude of 9.2 (The closest seismometer was actually destroyed during the quake). This huge earthquake served as proof of a then-theoretical cause of earth movements: plate tectonics.
The San Bernardino County Museum’s 2018 Dome Talks series continues on Thursday, February 22, featuring New York Times science writer Henry Fountain, author of The Great Quake: How the Biggest Earthquake in North America Changed our Understanding of the Planet, published in August 2017.
For two decades at The New York Times, Fountain has covered science subjects, including climate change, earthquakes, hurricanes, mudslides, nuclear accidents and other natural and human-caused disasters. His book The Great Quake is a tale about the almost unimaginable brute force of nature – a 9.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Alaska on Good Friday 1964. Fountain combines history and science to bring the quake and its aftermath to life in vivid detail. According to the Los Angeles Times, “Interleaving snapshots of a lost world, the primal power of nature and high science, The Great Quake is an outstanding work of nonfiction."
The museum director, Melissa Russo said, “the County Museum is always interested in bringing new information to the public about earthquake science, especially as it pertains to our location on the Pacific Rim ‘ring of fire.’ Lessons learned from the Alaska quake pertain today, and we’re happy to bring this to our Dome Talks audience through this esteemed science authority, Henry Fountain.”
The museum’s Dome Talks series features leading authors and thought leaders discussing topics relevant to the past, present, and future of our Inland Southern California region. This year’s lineup emphasizes the seismic shifts, social changes and environmental forces that have affected the lives of Californians. Dome Talks start at 6:30 p.m. with light refreshments provided by the San Bernardino County Museum Association.
The San Bernardino County Museum’s Dome Talks and other exciting events and programs reflect the effort by the Board of Supervisors to achieve the Countywide Vision by celebrating arts, culture, and education in the county, creating quality of life for residents and visitors.