The 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake Anchorage Walking Tour
The magnitude 9.2 earthquake was the largest recorded earthquake in U.S. history. The Great Alaska Earthquake, also known as the Good Friday Earthquake, occurred at a pivotal time in the history of earth science and helped lead to the acceptance of plate tectonic theory. All large subduction zone earthquakes are understood through insights learned from the 1964 event, and observations and interpretations of the earthquake have influenced the design of infrastructure and seismic monitoring systems now in place. The earthquake caused extensive damage across the State and triggered local tsunamis that devastated the Alaskan towns of Whittier, Valdez, and Seward.