December 27, 1888: The Geological Society of America is founded

Wed, 03 Dec 2014 13:48:26 -0500

Members of GSA at a formal banquet held during the 1940 annual meeting in Austin, Texas. Credit: Courtesy of GSA.

When the Geological Society of America (GSA) held its first organizational meeting in December 1888, there were only about 200 geologists in North America. Today, as GSA celebrates its 125th anniversary, the organization has evolved into one of the world’s largest societies devoted exclusively to geology, representing more than 25,000 members — researchers, students, teachers and industry professionals with interests spanning the geosciences — in 107 countries.

Benchmarks: December 16, 1811-February 7, 1812: The New Madrid earthquakes strike the Heartland

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 06:41:58 -0500

Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC) Executive Director Jim Wilkinson moderates a panel discussion during the 18th annual 'Earthquakes Mean Business' seminar on Feb. 11, 2011. Alisa Nave, CUSEC

Fissures that formed during the 1811-1812 New Madrid earthquakes can be seen in this 1904 picture from Mississippi County, Mo. Fuller, M.L., U.S. Geological Survey Photographic Library

Seismic risk across the United States as estimated by the U.S. Geological Survey in 2008. Colors show the levels of estimated horizontal shaking. U.S. Geological Survey

Students demonstrate how to protect themselves during an earthquake in this 'Drop, Cover and Hold On' drill. Alisa Nave, CUSEC

This winter marks the bicentennial of a series of powerful intraplate earthquakes that occurred in the central United States over a two-month period beginning on Dec. 16, 1811. Named for New Madrid, one of the settlements on the Mississippi River, these tremors were among the largest historic earthquakes to occur east of the Rocky Mountains.

Anniversary on EARTH Magazine

December 27, 1888: The Geological Society of America is founded

Benchmarks: December 16, 1811-February 7, 1812: The New Madrid earthquakes strike the Heartland