reporter: it was a most catastrophic earthquake ever to hit anyplace east of the mississippi, in all of u.s. history. struck charleston with a ferocious roar. reporter: author and researcher richard describes the horror that filled the steamy charleston air on august 31st, 1886. an estimated 7.3 magnitude earthquake devastated this charming southern city. two-thirds of all the brick structures in charleston were either destroyed or severely damaged. reporter: and it was felt from montreal to nebraska, cuba to bermuda. so this is the church building. this was severely damaged in the earthquake. this is one of the most magnificent churches in charleston. the entire bell tower separated with a huge crack through the side of the building. reporter: amazingly the church was put back together with earthquake bolts, as were many other buildings in town. so these are the earthquake
cuba. one of the most mag any of sent magnificent churches. reporter: amazingly the church was put back together with earthquake bolts and were many other building in town. reporter: these of the earthquake bolts? charleston s legendary earthquake bolts. what you see not actually the earthquake bolts itself. that s the long iron rod that runs all the way through the building. when will we see the support? reporter: this retired geology professor spent decades researching the 1886 quake and says the faults zone is just as deep and runs right through his tore irk s west chest perp the earth wake was at least one of serv
of u.s. history. struck charleston with a ferocious roar. reporter: author and researcher describes the horror that filled the steamy charleston air on august 31st, 1886. estimated 7.3 magnitude earthquake devastated this charming southern city. two-thirds of all the brick structures in charleston were either destroyed or severely damaged. reporter: and it was felt from montreal to nebraska, cuba to bermuda. this is the church building. this was severely damaged in the earthquake. this is one of the most magnificent churches in charleston. st. michaels episcopal church. the bell tower separate with a huge crack through the side of the building. reporter: amazingly the church was put back together with earth quake bolts as were many other buildings in town. so these are the earthquake bolts? these are charleston s legendary earthquake bolts. what you see on the side of the building is not the earth quake