Teaching American History in Maryland - Documents for the Classroom - Maryland State Archives



	The Great Baltimore Fire of 1904 Introduction BALTIMORE, Md., Feb. 8.-- Smoke enshrouded, this stricken city lies to-night stunned and silent under the weight of the worst disaster in its history. The great fire which began shortly before noonday on Sunday burned itself out at the water's edge just as evening fell today, having swept, a gigantic all-conquering wave of flame, up from the heart of the business centre of the city, through its financial district, and then, receding, back among the wharves and warehouses. A territory twelve full city blocks by nine, and extending beyond over a mile and more of water front, is left in smoking, hideous ruins. Where at Saturday's close of business stood stately office structures, substantial buildings of business, and docks teeming with the shipping trade of the world, there are now piles of broken brick and stone and tottering walls which the zappers are fast leveling with dynamite. The business streets are deserted, not because it is the day's end and the workers are gone till morning, but because there can be no work until the restored city rises from the ashes. As for the loss -- this is a matter of reckoning now. The authorities have put it at $150,000,000, but such an estimate takes into account only what can be figured as the direct and immediate damage. Indirectly the losses are quite beyond computation, and it will take the days necessary to overhaul vaults and deposit chambers in order to make any accurate appreciation of the injury done to all interests affected.... Extracted From: New York Times, February 9, 1904 National History Standards Materials compiled in this document can be used by educators to fulfill the following National History Standards for Grades 5-12: Era 7: The Emergence of Modern America (1890-1930) STANDARD 3: How the United States changed from the end of World War I to the eve of the Great Depression. Standard 3B: The student understands how a modern capitalist economy emerged in the 1920s. 5-12: Explain how principles of scientific management and technological innovations, including assembly lines, rapid transit, household appliances, and radio, continued to transform production, work, and daily life. [Examine the influence of ideas] 9-12: Analyze the new business downtowns, the development of suburbs, and the role of transportation in changing urban life. [Explain historical continuity and change] Primary Resources BALTIMORE BEFORE THE FIRE DESCRIPTION: Photograph, Baltimore from Federal Hill. City Hall dome at left; at center, Merchant's Exchange. DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1876 NOTES: This photograph, taken in 1876, three years after the last major fire, shows the area of the city that would be hardest hit by the fire. The dome at left is City Hall which marks the northern boundary of the burned district. The area from the wharves to City Hall (1,526 buildings in 86 square blocks comprising 140 acres) would be destroyed by the fire. SOURCE: MSA SC 2167-1-63 REPOSITORY: Maryland State Archives DESCRIPTION: Photograph, City Hall, Baltimore DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: before 1903 SOURCE: MSA SC 2167-1-13 REPOSITORY: Maryland State Archives DESCRIPTION: Photograph, Hutzlers Brothers DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: NOTES: Founded in 1858, Hutzler Brothers kept expanding on its original Howard Street site until 1887, when these structures were demolished to make way for the Pallace Building. SOURCE: MSA SC 2167-1-63 REPOSITORY: Maryland State Archives DESCRIPTION: Photograph, Louis Ash & Company, 267 West Baltimore Street, between Eutaw and Howard Streets DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1880 SOURCE: MSA SC 2167-1-1 REPOSITORY: Maryland State Archives DESCRIPTION: Photograph, N. Tip Slee bicycle shop DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: n. d. NOTES: N. Tip Slee sold bicycles at 2310-2313 Madison Avenue from 1895 to 1901. By 1903 he was marketing gasoline engines. SOURCE: MSA SC 2167-1-28 REPOSITORY: Maryland State Archives DESCRIPTION: Photograph, Eutaw House DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: c. 1875 NOTES: Eutaw House was a hotel located on the northwest corner of Baltimore and Eutaw Streets. It was built in 1835 and survived the 1904 fire, but was torn down in stages beginning in 1912. The building was gone by 1916. The building was bought by Robert Garrett & Sons in 1845 and served as an army headquarters during the Civil War. SOURCE: MSA SC 2167-1-14 REPOSITORY: Maryland State Archives DESCRIPTION: Photograph, Market Place DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: c. 1900 SOURCE: MSA SC 2167-1-3 REPOSITORY: Maryland State Archives DESCRIPTION: Photograph, Lexington Street, West DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: ca. 1895 REPRODUCTIONS: How to order copies of this item SOURCE: (Z24.2.VF) REPOSITORY: Maryland Historical Society BALTIMORE IN FLAMES DESCRIPTION: Photograph, Firemen fighting the great fire at unknown location DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1904 RESTRICTIONS: All commercial use restricted. Contact the Maryland State Archives Curator of Photographs for information concerning use. SOURCE: Marion E. Warren Photograph Collection, MSA SC 1890-4570 REPOSITORY: Maryland State Archives DESCRIPTION: Photograph, Hoses and ladders on an unidentified street DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1904 RESTRICTIONS: All commercial use restricted. Contact the Maryland State Archives Curator of Photographs for information concerning use. SOURCE: Marion E. Warren Photograph Collection, MSA SC 1890-4560 REPOSITORY: Maryland State Archives DESCRIPTION: Photograph, Lombard and Liberty streets DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1904 RESTRICTIONS: All commercial use restricted. Contact the Maryland State Archives Curator of Photographs for information concerning use. SOURCE: Marion E. Warren Photograph Collection, MSA SC 1890-4574 REPOSITORY: Maryland State Archives DESCRIPTION: Photograph, Soldier guarding West Baltimore Street from bridge. DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1904 RESTRICTIONS: All commercial use restricted. Contact the Maryland State Archives Curator of Photographs for information concerning use. SOURCE: Marion E. Warren Photograph Collection, MSA SC 1890-4576 REPOSITORY: Maryland State Archives DESCRIPTION: Photograph, Pier scene with fireboats DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1904 REPRODUCTIONS: How to order copies of this item SOURCE: (Z24.61.VF) REPOSITORY: Maryland Historical Society DESCRIPTION: Photograph, Burning buildings DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1904 REPRODUCTIONS: How to order copies of this item SOURCE: (Z24.64.VF) REPOSITORY: Maryland Historical Society DESCRIPTION: Photograph, Fire Engine DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1904 REPRODUCTIONS: How to order copies of this item SOURCE: (Z24.148VF) REPOSITORY: Maryland Historical Society AFTERMATH OF THE FIRE DESCRIPTION: Newspaper, "Baltimore Saved Loss $150,000,000" DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: February 9, 1904 SOURCE: The Historical New York Times DESCRIPTION: Newspaper, "Flames Raged for near 40 Hours" DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: February 9, 1904 SOURCE: The Historical New York Times DESCRIPTION: Photograph, Militia men on guard in the burned district. DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1904 RESTRICTIONS: All commercial use restricted. Contact the Maryland State Archives Curator of Photographs for information concerning use. SOURCE: Marion E. Warren Photograph Collection, MSA SC 1890-4491 REPOSITORY: Maryland State Archives DESCRIPTION: Photograph, Engine 15 deserted during collapse of Hurst Building. DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1904 RESTRICTIONS: All commercial use restricted. Contact the Maryland State Archives Curator of Photographs for information concerning use. SOURCE: Marion E. Warren Photograph Collection, MSA SC 1890-4646 REPOSITORY: Maryland State Archives DESCRIPTION: Photograph, East Baltimore Street from Charles Street after the great fire of February 4, 1904 DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: February 9, 1904 REPRODUCTIONS: How to order prints SOURCE: Baltimore County Legacy Web REPOSITORY: Baltimore County Public Library DESCRIPTION: Photograph, ruins of the Hopkins Place Savings Bank DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: February 9, 1904 REPRODUCTIONS: How to order prints SOURCE: Baltimore County Legacy Web REPOSITORY: Baltimore County Public Library DESCRIPTION: Photograph, unidentified panorama after the 1904 fire DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: February 9, 1904 REPRODUCTIONS: How to order prints SOURCE: Baltimore County Legacy Web REPOSITORY: Baltimore County Public Library DESCRIPTION: Photograph, unidentified buildings destroyed by the great Baltimore fire of February 4, 1904 DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: February 9, 1904 REPRODUCTIONS: How to order prints SOURCE: Baltimore County Legacy Web REPOSITORY: Baltimore County Public Library DESCRIPTION: Video, Excerpt from the film, The Great Fire of Baltimore DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1904 REPRODUCTIONS: COPYRIGHT: SOURCE: Great Baltimore Fire of 1904 REPOSITORY: Library of Congress, Washington, DC DESCRIPTION: [Panoramic photograph of Baltimore fire]. DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: c 1904 REPRODUCTIONS: How to Order Photographic Reproductions COPYRIGHT: Copyright and Other Restrictions SOURCE: Taking the Long View: Panoramic Photographs, 1851-1991 REPOSITORY: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. DESCRIPTION: [Panoramic photograph of Baltimore fire]. DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: c 1904 REPRODUCTIONS: How to Order Photographic Reproductions COPYRIGHT: Copyright and Other Restrictions SOURCE: Taking the Long View: Panoramic Photographs, 1851-1991 REPOSITORY: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. DESCRIPTION: [Panoramic photograph of Baltimore fire]. DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: c 1904 REPRODUCTIONS: How to Order Photographic Reproductions COPYRIGHT: Copyright and Other Restrictions SOURCE: Taking the Long View: Panoramic Photographs, 1851-1991 REPOSITORY: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. DESCRIPTION: [Panoramic photograph of Baltimore fire]. DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: c 1904 REPRODUCTIONS: How to Order Photographic Reproductions COPYRIGHT: Copyright and Other Restrictions SOURCE: Taking the Long View: Panoramic Photographs, 1851-1991 REPOSITORY: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. DESCRIPTION: Baltimore Harbor after fire DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: c 1904 REPRODUCTIONS: How to Order Photographic Reproductions COPYRIGHT: Copyright and Other Restrictions SOURCE: Taking the Long View: Panoramic Photographs, 1851-1991 REPOSITORY: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. DESCRIPTION: Cycloramic view of Baltimore's big fire from Hanover St. DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: c 1904 REPRODUCTIONS: How to Order Photographic Reproductions COPYRIGHT: Copyright and Other Restrictions SOURCE: Taking the Long View: Panoramic Photographs, 1851-1991 REPOSITORY: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. DESCRIPTION: Cycloramic view of the burned area of Baltimore's big fire DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: c 1904 REPRODUCTIONS: How to Order Photographic Reproductions COPYRIGHT: Copyright and Other Restrictions SOURCE: Taking the Long View: Panoramic Photographs, 1851-1991 REPOSITORY: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. DESCRIPTION: Baltimore Street west of St. Paul DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1904 REPRODUCTIONS: How To Order Copies of This Item REPOSITORY: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. DESCRIPTION: Southeast over Baltimore Street and Hopkins Place, where the great fire started, Baltimore, Md DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1904 REPRODUCTIONS: How To Order Copies of This Item REPOSITORY: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. DESCRIPTION: A scene of desolation, a section of the fire area, Baltimore DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1904 REPRODUCTIONS: How To Order Copies of This Item REPOSITORY: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. DESCRIPTION: Militiamen on guard, burned district, Baltimore, Md DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1904 REPRODUCTIONS: How To Order Copies of This Item REPOSITORY: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. DESCRIPTION: Newspaper, "$40,000,000 Fire Loss in Baltimore" DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: February 8, 1904 SOURCE: The Historical New York Times REBUILDING THE CITY DESCRIPTION: Report of the "Citizens' relief committee' appointed after the great Baltimore fire DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: [Baltimore, 1904] COPYRIGHT: Copyright and Other Restrictions SOURCE: The Capital and the Bay: Narratives of Washington and the Chesapeake Bay Region, ca. 1600-1925 REPOSITORY: Library of Congress, Washington, DC DESCRIPTION: Getting ready to rebuild - Clearing up the ruins of the burned city, Baltimore DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1904 REPRODUCTIONS: How To Order Copies of This Item REPOSITORY: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. DESCRIPTION: Tearing down a dangerous wall, burned district, Baltimore, Md DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1904 REPRODUCTIONS: How To Order Copies of This Item REPOSITORY: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. DESCRIPTION: Photograph, West from Saint Paul and Baltimore Streets DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1906 REPRODUCTIONS: How to order copies of this item NOTES: Photograph shows scene two years after the fire. SOURCE: (Z24.351) REPOSITORY: Maryland Historical Society DESCRIPTION: Photograph, West Calvert and Baltimore Streets DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1906 REPRODUCTIONS: How to order copies of this item NOTES: Photograph shows scene two years after the fire. SOURCE: (Z24.352) REPOSITORY: Maryland Historical Society Additional Media Resources Great Baltimore Fire of 1904. From Enoch Pratt Free Library. Secondary Resources Photographic views and description of the great Baltimore $175,000,000 fire, February 7, 8, 9, 1904. Balts. [i.e., Baltimore, Md.] : E.D. Read & Sons, Printers, [1904] Henderson, Daniel McIntyre. Baltimore : the book of the fire : a word picture and a series of illustrations showing the progress of the great conflagration and its disastrous results. Baltimore : D.M. Henderson, c 1904 Petersen, Peter B. The Great Baltimore Fire. Baltimore: The Press at the Maryland Historical Society, 2004. Copyright and Other Restrictions Access to materials linked within these document packets is intended for educational and research purposes. The written permission of the copyright owners and/or holders of other rights (such as publicity and privacy rights) is required for distribution, reproduction, or other use beyond that allowed by fair use or other statutory exemptions. The responsibility for making an independent legal assessment and independently securing any necessary rights rests with persons desiring to use particular items in the context of the intended use. Password Access to Materials The use of any user name and password to access materials on this web site constitutes an agreement by the user to abide by any and all copyright restrictions and is an acknowledgement that these materials will be used for personal and educational use only. In most instances, the username aaco and password aaco# will work. Contact ref@mdsa.net if you have any questions or have difficulty accessing files. Credits Teaching American History in Maryland is a collaborative partnership of the Maryland State Archives and the Center for History Education (CHE), University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), and the following sponsoring school systems: Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Baltimore City Public School System, Baltimore County Public Schools, and Howard County Public Schools. Other program partners include the Martha Ross Center for Oral History, Maryland Historical Society, State Library Resource Center/Enoch Pratt Free Library, with assistance from the National Archives and Records Administration and the Library of Congress. The program is funded through grants from the U.S. Department of Education. This document packet was researched and developed by Nancy Bramucci.
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