Inferno: The Great Boston Fire of 1872 (MHS)

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.