Frankie & The Phoenix - Marina Earthquake Memorial (mEQm)

Marina Earthquake Memorial (mEQm) : MISSION

A small group of Marina residents who were present during the 5:04 pm Loma Prieta earthquake formed a committee in 2004 to build a monument to Loma Prieta with the mission to:

Remember the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake and its effects on the Bay Area
Honor the Fireboat Phoenix, the SFFD, and the NERT program
Educate the public about the importance of disaster preparedness
Illuminate the historical connection between the 1906 Earthquake, the 1915 Pan-Pacific Exposition, and the Marina District.

After many years of proposed different venues and designs, the project was taken over by the S.F. Arts Commission and financed by the City’s public-art fund. A sculpture, “Bow”, by artist Walter Hood (www.hooddesignstudio.com) now stands in front of SFFD Station 35 at Pier 22 ½ along the Embarcadero in San Francisco. This is the floating station that houses the three fireboats (The Phoenix, The Guardian, and The St. Francis). This will serve as a gathering place every year on October 17 th at 5:04 pm to remember the Loma Prieta Earthquake and its lesson for disaster preparedness.

10.17.2022 – 33rd Anniversary Commemoration

drawing © Marc Goldyne

Honoring of the work of the Marina Earthquake Monument Group (mEQm) and creation of the Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT)

Ceremony to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of the Loma Prieta Earthquake and the dedication of the Earthquake Monument

Loma Prieta Commemoration Invitation (PDF - 208k)
mEQm Loma Prieta Program (PDF - 607k)

10.17.2009 – 20th anniversary commemoration: The Big Rumble

San Francisco hosted the Big Rumble on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake. This event promoted disaster preparedness and earthquake science awareness. During the afternoon on the Marina Green there was a safety fair, musical entertainment, a S.F.F.D. demonstration of fire apparatus, and a water display by the fireboats. A ceremony was held on the Marina Green at 5:04 pm, the time of the earthquake twenty years earlier, with Mayor Gavin Newsom, Fire Chief Hayes-White, Supervisor (District 2) Alioto-Pier, and other dignitaries and heroes from the 1989 quake taking part in the ceremony.

Commemoration Invitation (PDF - 169k)
Commemoration Program Details (PDF - 485k)
Honoring the 20th Anniversary of the Loma Prieta Earthquake Marina Times article by Gail Goldyne (PDF - 27k)

10.17.2004 – The 15•50•15 Remembrance & Celebration

Marina residents and merchants in collaboration with representatives of San Francisco city agencies hosted the 15•50•15 event on the Marina Green. It celebrated the 15th anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake, the 50th anniversary of the fireboat Phoenix, and the 15th anniversary of the NERT (S.F.F.D. Neighborhood Emergency Response Team) program.