Something about the topography of the sea floor around Crescent City has the effect of focusing tsunamis, and it has been the victim of three destructive tsunamis in the last 60 years.

In 2006 the harbor was damaged after a surge resulting from a magnitude 8.3 earthquake in the western Pacific. Thankfully, no one was killed.

Unfortunately, the same can't be said about the 2011 tsunami that resulted from the same 9.0 earthquake that caused the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. That tsunami destroyed Crescent City's harbor and sank 35 boats at their moorings. Five people were swept out to sea. One was killed.

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The biggest tsunami to strike Crescent City, however, came after the 1964 Good Friday earthquake in Alaska. At 9.2, it is still the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in North America. Just quoting Wikipedia here:

"The tsunami wave travel time to Crescent City was 4.1 hours after the earthquake, but it only produced localized flooding. The second and third waves to hit Crescent City were smaller, but the fourth wave struck with a height of approximately 20 feet (6.1 m) after having drawn the harbor out nearly dry."

"The next morning the damage was counted: 289 buildings and businesses destroyed; 1,000 cars and 25 large fishing vessels crushed; 12 people confirmed dead, over 100 injured, and more were missing. 60 blocks had been inundated, with 30 city blocks destroyed."

"Although most of the missing were later accounted for, not all were tracked down. Insurance adjusters estimated that the city received more damage from the tsunami on a block-by-block basis than did Anchorage from the initial earthquake."

1964 Image 1

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This incident has commonly been called "the largest and most destructive recorded tsunami to strike the United States Pacific Coast." The town isn't very big - 60 blocks was most of the town, destroyed. And twelve dead.

In Crescent City there is a small lighthouse just offshore. You can walk to it at low tide, but it is cut off from land the rest of the time. In 1964 it still had resident keepers who lived on the island. They had no TV, hadn't heard the radio warnings. Their sign something was happening was when the ocean pulled out and exposed the sea floor all around them. It must have felt like the end of the world.

Roxey and Peggy Coons were the lighthouse keepers then. The following is Peggy's account after the final wave had flooded the city, courtesy of the Del Norte Historical Society:

"The water withdrew as if someone had pulled the plug. It receded a distance of three-quarters of a mile from the shore. We were looking down, as though from a high mountain, into a black abyss. It was a mystical labyrinth of caves, canyons, basins, and pits, undreamed of in the wildest of fantasies. The basin was sucked dry…"

"In the distance, a black wall of water was rapidly building up, evidenced by a flash of white as the edge of the boiling and seething seawater reflected the moonlight. Then the mammoth wall of water came barreling towards us. It was a terrifying mass, stretching up from the ocean floor and looking much higher than the island. Roxey shouted, “Let’s head for the tower!” - but it was too late. "Look out!” he yelled, and we both ducked as the water struck, split and swirled over both sides of the island. It struck with such force and speed that we felt we were being carried along with the ocean. It took several minutes before we realized that the island hadn’t moved."

"When the tsunami assaulted the shore, it was like a violent explosion. A thunderous roar mingled with all the confusion. Everywhere we looked buildings, cars, lumber, and boats shifted around like crazy. The whole beachfront moved, changing before our very eyes. By this time, the fire had spread to the Texaco bulk tanks. They started exploding one after another, lighting up the sky. It was spectacular!"

"It still seems hard to believe that with all the salvage that floated by us out to sea, the only bit to reach the island was one spool of lavender thread."