What Charleston's Earthquake Booms Sounded Like

Introduction

The 1886 Charleston earthquake remains one of the strongest historical examples of how earthquakes can generate loud, mysterious sounds that are easily mistaken for explosions or other unexplained phenomena. Within the broader subject of earthquake booms and Seneca Guns, Charleston is especially important because contemporary witnesses documented not only the roaring noise of the main earthquake but also weeks of aftershocks accompanied by repeated cannon-like detonations. These accounts provide one of the clearest historical records linking audible booms directly to seismic activity rather than to atmospheric or unidentified aerial events.[U.S. Geological Survey]usgs.govOpen source on usgs.gov.

Unlike isolated reports of unexplained bangs, the Charleston sequence combined thousands of eyewitness observations with an extended series of aftershocks. That unusually rich historical record allows modern seismologists to compare reported sounds with known earthquake behaviour and better understand why some shallow earthquakes produce booming noises while others do not.[U.S. Geological Survey]usgs.gov1886 charleston south carolina earthquake intensities and ground motionsU.S. Geological SurveyThe 1886 Charleston, South Carolina, earthquake: Intensities and ground motions | U.S. Geological Survey…

What Charleston’s earthquake booms sounded like

When the main earthquake struck on the evening of 31 August 1886, many witnesses described hearing the sound before, during or immediately alongside the strongest shaking. Contemporary reports consistently compared it to:

The roaring became part of the event’s defining memory because it spread across an exceptionally large area. The earthquake itself, now generally estimated at about magnitude 7.3, was felt across much of the eastern United States, and reports of the accompanying roar appeared throughout the region.[U.S. Geological Survey Publications]pubs.usgs.govCharleston, South Carolina, Earthquake-March 28, 2012…Published: March 28, 2012

Modern seismology explains these descriptions without requiring any unusual acoustic source. As seismic waves travelled through the shallow crust, high-frequency vibrations reached the ground surface and produced audible sound. Near the epicentral region, the sound and shaking were experienced almost simultaneously, making the earth itself appear to roar.[U.S. Geological Survey]usgs.govOpen source on usgs.gov.

Why the aftershocks produced repeated detonations

The main earthquake was only the beginning. For weeks afterwards, Charleston experienced frequent aftershocks, many of which were accompanied by loud explosive noises. The US Geological Survey specifically notes historical reports describing “loud detonations” during this prolonged aftershock sequence.[U.S. Geological Survey]usgs.govOpen source on usgs.gov.

Several factors made these aftershocks particularly noticeable.

First, the fault system remained highly active. Large earthquakes redistribute stress through surrounding rocks, allowing numerous smaller ruptures to occur as the crust gradually adjusted. Some of these aftershocks were strong enough to damage already weakened buildings. Modern reassessments of historical records have even identified a previously unrecognised sizeable aftershock roughly nine to ten minutes after the main shock, estimated at about magnitude 5.6.[U.S. Geological Survey]usgs.gov1886 charleston south carolina earthquake intensities and ground motionsU.S. Geological SurveyThe 1886 Charleston, South Carolina, earthquake: Intensities and ground motions | U.S. Geological Survey…

Second, many aftershocks were probably relatively shallow. Shallow earthquakes transmit higher-frequency vibrations to the surface more efficiently than deeper events, making audible booming much more likely. This is the same mechanism now recognised in many modern reports of earthquake sounds.[U.S. Geological Survey]usgs.govOpen source on usgs.gov.

Third, people were already on alert. Following the destruction of the main earthquake, residents remained outside or slept in temporary shelters because they feared additional shocks. This meant thousands of observers were awake and listening during every significant aftershock, greatly increasing the number of documented sound reports.[U.S. Geological Survey Publications]pubs.usgs.govCharleston, South Carolina, Earthquake-March 28, 2012…Published: March 28, 2012

Why Charleston became such an important historical case

Many mysterious boom reports suffer from one major problem: there is no confirmed source. Charleston differs because the source was unmistakable.

Researchers can directly compare:

Because these independent observations align so well, Charleston serves as a benchmark demonstrating that earthquakes can genuinely produce loud, explosion-like sounds rather than merely being associated with them through coincidence.[U.S. Geological Survey]usgs.gov1886 charleston south carolina earthquake intensities and ground motionsU.S. Geological SurveyThe 1886 Charleston, South Carolina, earthquake: Intensities and ground motions | U.S. Geological Survey…

The event also illustrates that audible earthquake sounds are not restricted to the initial rupture. A prolonged aftershock sequence can generate repeated booms over days or weeks, reinforcing local traditions that an area is haunted by mysterious cannon-like noises.

How Charleston helps explain later mystery booms

The Charleston sequence provides a useful comparison for later reports of unexplained booms along the Atlantic coast.

Without historical context, a resident hearing a sudden cannon-like bang with little obvious shaking might reasonably suspect:

Charleston demonstrates that another explanation must also be considered: a small, shallow earthquake whose acoustic energy is more noticeable than its ground motion. The USGS specifically discusses the Charleston earthquake alongside Seneca Guns because both involve reports of loud detonations that can originate from natural geological processes.[U.S. Geological Survey]usgs.govOpen source on usgs.gov.

This comparison does not mean every unexplained boom has a seismic origin. Seneca Guns almost certainly encompass several different natural and human-made causes depending on location and circumstance. Instead, Charleston provides a well-documented example showing that earthquakes belong on the list of plausible explanations whenever loud unexplained booms occur in seismically active regions.[U.S. Geological Survey]usgs.govOpen source on usgs.gov.

What the Charleston record teaches modern investigators

The Charleston earthquake highlights several practical lessons that remain relevant when evaluating reports of unexplained booming sounds:

• Booms may accompany only modest shaking. Especially during shallow events, witnesses may remember the sound more vividly than the ground motion itself.
• Repeated detonations do not necessarily indicate repeated explosions. They may instead reflect an ongoing sequence of aftershocks as stressed faults continue to adjust.
• Historical eyewitness accounts have scientific value. Thousands of descriptions collected after the Charleston earthquake have helped researchers reconstruct both shaking intensity and the behaviour of the aftershock sequence.[U.S. Geological Survey]usgs.gov1886 charleston south carolina earthquake intensities and ground motionsU.S. Geological SurveyThe 1886 Charleston, South Carolina, earthquake: Intensities and ground motions | U.S. Geological Survey…
• Context matters. A confirmed earthquake sequence provides a much stronger explanation for mysterious booms than speculation about aerial phenomena when the timing and location are consistent with seismic activity.

Within the wider study of UFO noises and other unexplained acoustic events, Charleston remains one of the strongest historical demonstrations that the Earth itself can generate sounds dramatic enough to resemble artillery, thunder or distant explosions. Rather than being an obscure curiosity, its documented roaring main shock and booming aftershocks provide a well-supported natural analogue against which later mystery-boom reports can be evaluated.[U.S. Geological Survey]usgs.govOpen source on usgs.gov.

Amazon book picks

Further Reading

Books and field guides related to What Charleston's Earthquake Booms Sounded Like. Use these as the next step if you want deeper reading beyond the article.

Book

Upheaval in Charleston

By Susan Millar Williams, Stephen G. Hoffius

History and suspense combine in this scholarly account of a city recovering from the Civil War and rocked by an earthquake and murder. On...

See on Amazon

Book

Earthquakes

By Bruce Bolt

The ultimate introduction to seismology, written by distinguished scholar and Professor Bruce Bolt, of the University of California, Berk...

See on Amazon

Book

Earthquakes in Human History

By Jelle Zeilinga de Boer, Donald Theodore Sanders

On November 1, 1755—All Saints' Day—a massive earthquake struck Europe's Iberian Peninsula and destroyed the city of Lisbon. Churches col...

See on Amazon

Book

A Crack in the Edge of the World

By Simon Winchester

History: Specific Events & Topics;Earth Sciences; Geography; Environment; Planning;History Of The Americas

See on Amazon

Browse more on Amazon:Upheaval in CharlestonEarthquakesEarthquakes in Human History

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

eBay marketplace picks

Marketplace Samples

Live-tested eBay searches with available results related to this page.

Shop location

UsingUSA USA USAUKCanadaAustraliaIreland

Selected fromUFO poster oneBay.co.uk.

Current eBay listing

Conspiracy Theory Poster Wall Print Gift UFO Aliens Flat Earth Moon Landing

GBP 18.97 | Free shippingNewSeller: forgevalleyprint (98.6% positive)Ships from: GB

View listing on eBay

Current eBay listing

VINTAGE UFO FLYING SAUCERS COMIC ADVERTISING A2 POSTER PRINT

GBP 10.76 | Free shippingNewSeller: andys-prints-uk (99.7% positive)Ships from: GB

View listing on eBay

Current eBay listing

I Want To Believe UFO Poster Giclée Fine Art Heavyweight Print

GBP 21.95 | Free shippingNewSeller: mintprint77 (100.0% positive)Ships from: GB

View listing on eBay

Current eBay listing

UFO Over Desert Highway Sci-Fi Abduction Poster Print Framed Canvas Wall Art

GBP 14.99 | Free shippingNewSeller: paradiseposters (99.6% positive)Ships from: GB

View listing on eBay

Browse more oneBay.co.uk

Example items shown for inspiration; availability and pricing can change. Branchoria may earn a commission if you purchase through outbound eBay links.

Endnotes

1. Source: usgs.gov
Link:https://www.usgs.gov/programs/earthquake-hazards/earthquake-booms-seneca-guns-and-other-sounds

2. Source: usgs.gov
Title: 1886 charleston south carolina earthquake intensities and ground motions
Link:https://www.usgs.gov/publications/1886-charleston-south-carolina-earthquake-intensities-and-ground-motions

3. Source: usgs.gov
Link:https://www.usgs.gov/publications/studies-related-charleston-south-carolina-earthquake-1886-tectonics-and-seismicity

4. Source: pubs.usgs.gov
Link:https://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/1986/0985/report.pdf

Published: March 28, 2012

5. Source: earthquake.usgs.gov
Title: Earthquake Hazards Program M 7.3 Scenario Earthquake
Link:https://earthquake.usgs.gov/scenarios/eventpage/gllegacycharleston_se/region-info

6. Source: usgs.gov
Title: studies related charleston south carolina earthquake 1886 a preliminary report
Link:https://www.usgs.gov/publications/studies-related-charleston-south-carolina-earthquake-1886-a-preliminary-report

7. Source: pubs.usgs.gov
Link:https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/70263628

Published: January 17, 2024

8. Source: pubs.usgs.gov
Link:https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/70242758

9. Source: usgs.gov
Link:https://www.usgs.gov/publications/shallow-faulting-and-folding-epicentral-area-1886-charleston-south-carolina-earthquake

10. Source: usgs.gov
Title: 1886 charleston south carolina earthquake a 1986 perspective
Link:https://www.usgs.gov/publications/1886-charleston-south-carolina-earthquake-a-1986-perspective

11. Source: usgs.gov
Title: list intensities 1886 charleston south carolina earthquake
Link:https://www.usgs.gov/publications/list-intensities-1886-charleston-south-carolina-earthquake

12. Source: pubs.usgs.gov
Link:https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/pp1313

13. Source: pubs.usgs.gov
Link:https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/ofr82311

14. Source: pubs.usgs.gov
Link:https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/pp1028

15. Source: pubs.usgs.gov
Link:https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/ofr7666

16. Source: youtube.com
Title: The Sky Just BOOMED… But No One Knows Why
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7QOQ1IKYes

17. Source: youtube.com
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VTM-TAIxyM

Additional References

18. Source: news.agu.org
Title: BUT IN THE U.S., SOME AREAS MAY BE EXPERI
Link:https://news.agu.org/press-release/some-of-todays-earthquakes-may-be-aftershocks-from-quakes-in-the-1800s/

Published: November 14, 2023

19. Source: sciencedirect.com
Title: Rasanen, Brett W. Maure
Link:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013795222004434

20. Source: youtube.com
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5lxT2CMU1M

21. Source: youtube.com
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6_a314KiZo

22. Source: youtube.com
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTWz19XzJt4

23. Source: nature.com
Title: The Effects of an Earthquake on Human Beings | Nature
Link:https://www.nature.com/articles/063165b0

24. Source: nature.com
Title: Report on the Charleston Earthquake 1 | Nature
Link:https://www.nature.com/articles/035031a0

25. Source: nature.com
Title: The Recent Earthquakes | Nature
Link:https://www.nature.com/articles/034460a0

26. Source: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Link:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17795896/

27. Source: nature.com
Link:https://www.nature.com/articles/036269d0