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Eve of Resilience: Market Street, San Francisco, 1905: Imagine a bustling Market Street under the soft glow of twilight, mere days before the great earthquake of 1906 would forever alter its landscape. The street is alive with the energy of the early 20th century, a moment frozen in time just before dawn. Horse-drawn carriages and the earliest automobiles share the road, their wheels echoing on the cobblestones. Pedestrians in period attire—men in bowler hats and women in long skirts—navigate the sidewalks, some pausing to look at shop windows displaying the latest fashions and goods. The iconic Ferry Building stands majestically in the distance, its clock tower a beacon for the city. Electric streetcars clang along the tracks, a sign of progress in this bustling metropolis. The buildings, a mix of Victorian and Edwardian architecture, line the street, their facades detailed with ornate woodwork and stonemasonry, signs of a prosperous city at the peak of its Gilded Age. In the foreground, a newsboy shouts the latest headlines, adding to the cacophony of city sounds. Street vendors sell their goods, from fresh flowers to hot meals, contributing to the vibrant street life. The air is filled with a mix of scents—from the salty breeze of the bay to the aroma of freshly baked bread and the occasional whiff of horse manure, adding authenticity to the scene. The sky above is a canvas of changing colors, with the setting sun casting a golden hue over the city, hinting at the calm before the storm. The overall atmosphere is one of lively daily routine, a snapshot of normalcy and optimism, unaware of the impending disaster that would test the city's spirit and resilience.