Landslide Photo Collections

Searchable USGS Photo and Multimedia Archive with Ordering Information

The Alaska Earthquake which occurred on March 27, 1964, caused devastating landslides and a tsunami that affected the west coast of the mainland United States.

  • Alaska Earthquake March 27, 1964 is also called the Prince William Sound Earthquake. This photo shows an earthquake-triggered landslide in glacial deposits that disrupted nearly a mile of the Alaska Railroad main line at Potter Hill near Anchorage. Photograph by U.S. Geological Survey.
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  • The 1964 Alaska earthquake-triggered landslides damaged homes in Turnagain Heights area in Anchorage. Photograph by U.S. Geological Survey.
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  • A subsidence trough (or graben) formed at the head of the L Street landslide in Anchorage during the earthquake. The slide block, which is virtually unbroken ground to the left of the graben, moved to theleft. the subsidence trough sank 7 to 10 feet (2.3 to 3.3 m) in response to 11 feet (3.6 m) of horizontal movement of the slide block. A number of houses were undercut or tilted by subsidence of the graben. Photograph by U.S. Geological Survey.
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  • This photo shows the Government Hill Elementary School in Anchorage which was destroyed by the Government Hill Landslide. Photograph by U.S. Geological Survey.
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  • This photo shows homes devastated by the Turnagain Heights landslide in Anchorage, deep within the slide area. About 75 homes were destroyed. Photograph by W.R. Hansen.
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