The Great New Madrid earthquakes began on December 16th, 1811. On that day three quakes estimated to have been anywhere
from 6.5 to 7.7 in magnitude struck the region and what would be a three month natural disaster that would impact a huge chunk of North America. Almost two thousand earthquakes hit in a three month period and caused upheaval in the region that would last for years. The New Madrid Area still experiences regular shakes and is at risk for large quakes in the future.  Come find out about seismic risk in the central U.S. and about the damage wrought by the Great Quakes of 1811-12 in our earthquake exhibit.