Great Fire of 1872

The Great Boston fire of 1872 was Boston's largest urban fire, and still ranks as one of the most costly fire-related property losses in American history. The conflagration began at 7:20 p.m. on November 9, 1872, in the basement of a commercial warehouse at 83-87 Summer Street. The fire was finally contained 12 hours later, after it had consumed about 65 acres of Boston's downtown, 776 buildings and much of the financial district, and caused $73.5 million in damage. Miraculously, only thirteen people died in the inferno.

 Boston Fire, Nov. 10, 1872. Liberty Square, Water Street, cor. Kilby Street, facing State Street. Claflin Guards, Newton, Co. C., 1st Regt., Mass Militia

  

Corner of Milk and Federal Streets

  

Franklin St. (Old South Meeting House in background)

  

Part of the view of a panorama of Fire of 1872

  

 Rear of old post office

  

Remains of Donahoes block, Franklin St