THE EFFECT OF THE 1886 CHARLESTON EARTHQUAKE ON WOOD-FRAMED HOUSES

The 1886 Charleston, SC, earthquake was the most devastating East Coast seismic event in US history. The effects of the earthquake can still be seen today in the Charleston region. Most of the houses in the region sustained some form of damage, and many of the damaged homes are still standing in the Charleston Historic District. One of the most noticeable forms of damage is what is referred to as the “Charleston lean.” Wood-framed homes in the Charleston region lean due to the torsion that was applied to the building during the ground motion phase of the earthquake. The tilting and twisting of the buildings, still in evidence today, helps us to understand the response of natural ground and made-land to the earthquake. A GIS of visible damage, including direction of “lean”, has been created and combined with detailed maps of geology and fill to better understand the true nature of the 1886 event and to better plan for future seismic events in the region.