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 (26 ha) of Boston’s downtown, 776 buildings and much of the financial district, and caused $73.5 million in damage. Despite these devastations, only thirteen people died in the inferno.
Photographic panorama of the ‘Burnt District’ of Boston, after the Great Fire, November 9, 10, 1872
Sargent Brothers’ store, Winthrop Square
State St. block, Pearl St. walls, Sailors’ Home
Summer Street south side, looking toward Broad St.
Washington St. north from Winter (Old South Meeting House in background)
Bachelder’s Wharf, Federal St.
Post office building after the fire
Bank of North America
Burr, Taft & Co. Devonshire St.
Federal St. (post office . . . fire engine)
Federal Street, Hunt and Company
Franklin St. (Old South Meeting House in background, tents and men in foreground)
Franklin St.
Post office on left
Rear of old post office
Remains of Claflin Larrabee building
Remains of Donahoes block, Franklin St.
