On August 31, 1886, a powerful earthquake struck near Charleston, South Carolina. The quake damaged or destroyed thousands of buildings and was felt across a large portion of the eastern United States. It caused significant casualties and economic losses for the region. At the time, many Americans did not associate strong earthquakes with the East Coast. The event prompted new interest in seismic hazards outside the western states. Charleston’s earthquake remains one of the most severe earthquakes in U.S. history east of the Rockies.
