On August 17, 1959 an earthquake measured 7.3-7.5 on the Richter scale at Yellowstone National Park. The tragic event caused over 28 deaths and $11 million in damage between Wyoming and Montana communities.

The quake known officialy as the Hebgen Lake Earthquake caused parts of the earth to drop as much as 20 feet and several seiches across Hebgen Lake for a 12 hour period. Aftershocks with a magnitude of 5.8 to 6.3 were reported after the initial quake.

The event is now part of a new book titled 'The 1959 Yellowstone Earthquake,' written by Larry Morris. Morris was 7-years-old when the quake hit. His family felt the tremble in his Idaho Falls home.

 

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