The ceremony took place at Lotta's Fountain on Market Street in San Francisco on Tuesday.
The magnitude-7.8 quake hit at 5:12 a.m. on this day 111 years ago.
Historians believe more than 3,000 people died as a result. More than 30 fires erupted from broken gas lines.
Speakers at today's event include San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, SFPD Chief Bill Scott, fire chief Joanne Hayes-White and former mayor Willie Brown.