In the autumn of 1895, residents of Charleston, Missouri, were jolted awake by a powerful earthquake that rattled the region. This seismic event measured an estimated magnitude of 6.6, making it the most significant earthquake to impact the Midwestern United States since the New Madrid earthquakes of 1812. The tremors were strong enough to cause buildings to collapse and other structures to suffer severe damage. Local reports described scenes of chaos, with terrified individuals fleeing their homes and congregating in open spaces, fearing aftershocks. The earthquake was also felt in various parts of neighboring states, leading to widespread alarm well beyond the immediate vicinity of Charleston.Reports emerged of significant damage to homes, schools, and businesses, causing economic disruption in the area. The two confirmed fatalities were a somber reminder of the quake's destructive nature. Seismologists later established the earthquake as part of a complex fault system linked to fault lines that had been relatively quiet since the early 19th century. The event heightened awareness of earthquakes in the region, paving the way for improved seismic studies and building regulations in the future, as communities sought to better prepare for such natural disasters.