A devastating magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Washington in 1949: A look back at April 13, 1949

On April 13, 1949, a powerful 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck western Washington. The quake’s epicenter was near what is now Joint Base Lewis–McChord, and it was felt across an enormous 230,000-square-mile area. The disaster left behind a trail of devastation: at least eight people were killed, many others were injured, and widespread structural damage was reported throughout the region. In Centralia, about 40% of homes and businesses were affected. In Puyallup, groundwater was forced to the surface, flooding several city blocks.

Seattle experienced severe damage, especially around the historic Pioneer Square neighborhood. Building facades crumbled onto streets, debris crushed parked cars, and church spires toppled. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, nearly every large building in Olympia sustained damage — including eight on the Capitol campus. Many chimneys and two large smokestacks collapsed, and public utilities were severely impacted, with broken water and gas lines and disruptions to electricity and telegraph services.

Tacoma and Seattle also suffered significant destruction, particularly in areas built on fill, where brick structures bore the brunt. In one dramatic incident, a 200-foot section of cliff plunged into Puget Sound three days after the quake, generating a tsunami that flooded homes along Tacoma’s shoreline.

The Washington Military Department estimated the damage at $25 million at the time — equivalent to roughly $334.5 million today. Despite its scale, the 1949 earthquake tends to be less remembered than the quakes that struck in 1965 and 2001. But as Maximilian Dixon, a geologic hazards supervisor, pointed out in 2019, it may well have been the most destructive of them all.

Another quake of similar magnitude struck on April 29, 1965, also measuring 6.7. It killed seven people and caused about $12.5 million in damage — around $100.3 million today. In 2001, the powerful 6.8-magnitude Nisqually earthquake hit the region, injuring around 400 people and causing over $2 billion in damage. Since then, the region has experienced smaller tremors, but none have matched the widespread destruction and lasting impact of that unforgettable day in April 1949.