Great New Orleans Fire (1788) facts for kids
The Great New Orleans Fire (1788) was a huge fire that happened in New Orleans. This city was then part of Louisiana (New Spain). On March 21, 1788, the fire destroyed 856 out of 1,100 buildings. This means most of the city was burned down! It swept through the central part of the Vieux Carré, reaching almost to the Mississippi River. Another big fire hit the city later, on December 8, 1794. That one destroyed 212 more buildings.
Contents
How the Great Fire Started
The terrible fire began around 1:30 in the afternoon. It started at the home of Don Vincente Jose Nuñez. His house was on Chartres Street, very close to Jackson Square. This square was then known as Plaza de Armas.
The fire started on a religious holiday called Good Friday. Because of this, priests would not let the church bells ring. Usually, church bells were rung to warn people about a fire. This meant many people did not know about the danger right away.
Fire Spreads Quickly
A strong wind from the southeast helped the fire spread very fast. Within just five hours, it had burned almost the entire city. Most of the important buildings in the area, now called the French Quarter, were destroyed. This included the main church, the city hall, army buildings, and the jail.
The fire spread between Dauphine Street and the Mississippi River. It also burned from Conti Street in the south to St. Philip Street in the north. Some buildings along the riverfront were saved. These included the Customs House, tobacco warehouses, the Governor's Building, the Royal Hospital, and the Ursuline Convent.
Rebuilding New Orleans
After the fire, the city's leaders decided to rebuild. They wanted new buildings to be made of strong materials like brick. These new structures would have courtyards, thick walls, and wrought iron balconies. This style was different from the older wooden buildings.
Famous New Buildings
Many famous buildings in New Orleans were built after this fire. These include the St. Louis Cathedral, the Cabildo, and the Presbytere. These buildings are all located around Jackson Square.
A wealthy man named Don Andres Almonaster y Rojas paid for and oversaw the building of the Cathedral and the Cabildo. Sadly, the Cabildo burned down in the 1794 fire and had to be rebuilt. The Presbytere was built a bit later, and Almonaster died before it was finished.
Governor's Report
The leader of the colony, Governor Miro, wrote about the fire. He described how terrible it was to see the whole city in flames. He wrote about mothers trying to find safe places for their children. Fathers and husbands worked hard to save what they could. Everyone was shocked and confused.
When morning came, families were in the streets, crying and feeling hopeless. Just hours before, they had been comfortable in their homes. Now, their city was in ruins. It had become a scary, empty place in just five hours.
Second Great Fire
After six years of rebuilding, another large fire struck New Orleans. This happened on December 8, 1794. This fire destroyed 212 more buildings. New Orleans was still a colony of Spain at this time. Because of the fires, most of the old French-style buildings were gone. The city was rebuilt in a Spanish style instead.
Images for kids
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Adrien de Pauger's Saint Louis Parish Church, built in 1727 and destroyed in the fire.
See also
In Spanish: Gran incendio de Nueva Orleans (1788) para niños
