Massachusetts Historical Society

Event

Inferno: The Great Boston Fire of 1872

At MHS

Anthony Sammarco

This is a hybrid event. FREE for MHS Members. $10 per person fee (in person). No charge for virtual attendees or Card to Culture participants (EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare). The in-person reception starts at 1:30 and the program will begin at 2:00.

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Inferno: The Great Boston Fire of 1872 commemorates the 150th anniversary of a devastating fire that destroyed sixty five acres of land in the city, from Washington Street, between Summer Street and Milk Street, fanning eastward towards the wharves projecting into Boston Harbor. The fire was said to have destroyed 776 buildings in Boston’s downtown, causing over $73 million [1872 dollars or $1,682,000,000.00 in 2022 dollars] in damage, killing an estimated twenty people and led to stricter building regulations in Boston. Fires have always been a constant source of anxiety, but Anthony Sammarco sheds light on the way this inferno was cataclysmic and beyond the comprehension of many people.

Hybrid Event

The in-person reception starts at 1:30 and the program will begin at 2:00.

Masks are optional inside the MHS building. Learn more about our COVID-19 protocols.

The virtual program begins at 2:00 PM and will be hosted on the video conference platform, Zoom. Registrants will receive a confirmation message with attendance information.

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