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The Great Fire of 1835

New-York Historical Society

Where this source supports the record

Each entry separates the article’s editorial relevance note from its exact, section-level claims. A bibliography link without a direct claim is labeled plainly.

  1. Fires · 16–17 December 1835

    The Great New York Fire of 1835

    Hanover Square and the burned commercial district · United States

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    Why editors use it here

    Museum synthesis of weather, firefighting limits, demolition, destruction, and rebuilding.

    1. Quick read

      On the bitterly cold night of 16 December 1835, fire spread through New York's densely packed commercial district near Wall Street and the East River.

      Reviewed 26 July 2026
    2. Trigger and conditions

      A fire discovered in a Merchant Street warehouse grew beyond the first companies' control.

      Reviewed 26 July 2026
    3. Uncertainty

      Sources give slightly different totals for buildings and monetary loss because the fire crossed property and accounting boundaries.

      Reviewed 26 July 2026
    4. Why it matters

      The fire was a systems failure produced by weather, urban form, stored commodities, water infrastructure, and institutional capacity.

      Reviewed 26 July 2026