The San Francisco Fire Department Historical Society presented the 1906 Great Earthquake and Fire Expo at Pier 48. The main role of the SFFDHS is to preserve the artifacts and history of the San Francisco Fire Department, and to promote public awareness and understanding of this history. The three-day exposition featured: fireboat tours and displays; old-time Firefighter Muster with bucket brigades, hose cart races, hand-operated fire pumps from the 1800s steamer operation, horse-drawn pumps, and a 65 foot fire ladder raise; historical exhibits with vintage fire apparatus and memorabilia/artifacts; historical photographic displays; live entertainment; and food and beverages.

The memorial at Lotta's Fountain, originally organized by the South of Market Boys club, has been a San Francisco tradition for more than 85 years. Each year a small group of survivors are honored at the fountain, where a wreath is laid at the moment the earthquake struck, shortly after 5 a.m. The oldest surviving monument in San Francisco, Lotta’s fountain was donated by singer/dancer Charlotte Mignon Lotta Crabtree in 1875. After the earthquake in 1906, the fountain, which was one of the few remaining structures on Market Street, became a central meeting place for San Franciscans.

On April 19th, 1906, this hydrant, now known as THE LITTLE GIANT, was found to have water. A hose lead was made, and the water supply from this hydrant has been credited with stopping the conflagration from advancing any further into the Mission district. Chief of the San Francisco Fire Department, Joanne Hayes-White began the annual hydrant painting. Everyone present was invited to join in and paint this famous hydrant. The SFFD Historical Society has presented this event for the last 35 years. The start time always coincides with the Lotta’s Fountain ceremonies.

One of four cottages rehabilitated by the Western Neighborhood Project was on display. Interpretive displays and exhibits by the San Francisco Building Department accompanied the shack.

The Presidio Trust and National Park Service hosted a day of 1906 earthquake and fire commemorative activities, including: music by the 91st Division Army Band; disaster preparedness information; period readings; and an illustrated presentation of the Presidio’s role after the 1906 earthquake and fire. An earthquake refugee camp was recreated.

A performer in the role of Lotta Crabtree guided this series of acts about the historic events in downtown San Francisco during and following the 1906 earthquake. The audience initially gathered around Lotta's Fountain, as San Francisco residents did after the 1906 earthquake to get news of survivors. Eight dancers led the audience to the nearby site of the Hearst Building, to pay homage to the three influential newspapers that flourished in this area known then as Cape Horn. Moving towards the Palace Hotel for the next act, the dancers' choreography was inspired by the chaos of people dashing towards the ferries over the piles of rubble on Market Street on April 18th. At the Palace Hotel a singer re-enacted Enrico Caruso singing an aria from Carmen at the hotel following the second tremor of the 1906 earthquake. Following the song, the dancers performed a bucket dance, with buckets and water, illuminating the events related to the fire that consumed Market Street on April 18th. The final act transported the audience forward in time to Christmas Eve, 1910 at One Post Plaza, to celebrate the historic outdoor concert that took place that night around Lotta's Fountain to reward the citizens of San Francisco for rebuilding their city. At this concert, Luisa Tetrazzini performed for a crowd of 250,000.