For your consideration in this lot are a rare collection of fifteen original photographs and a book, "The Night the Mountain Fell", by Lloyd Skinner, a photographer from Ennis, Montana. The photos and book are written by Skinner to document the infamous earthquake of August 17, 1959. This was one of the strongest earthquakes to rock the United States at the time. The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.2 centered on the Gallatin National Forest, located about 40 miles northwest of Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park; the earthquake struck at 11:37 pm on August 17, 1959, during the height of tourist season and in the middle of the night. Half of a 7,600-ft.-high mountain gave way from the earthquake. An estimated 80 million tons of rock slid down and across the canyon and up the other side, creating a natural dam that instantly formed what is now called Earthquake Lake. The new lake measured 175 feet deep. The water hit the rock slide, forcing it back up into Rock Creek Campground, where it overwhelmed its disoriented occupants. The rock slide also generated high winds. The wind and water flung people and cars and trailers about as if they were toys. Nearly two dozen people died in the landslide alone; about 250 people were trapped in the canyon because roads leading out had collapsed and fallen into the lake. "The Night the Mountain Fell" was later used as a title for books, fiction and non-fiction, on the subject. These photos and the booklet are an amazing piece of Montana's history. The booklet and photos are in very good condition, with slight curving to the photos from storage. The black and white photos are 3 1/2" X 5" and the booklet is 5 1/2" X 3 3/4".