barnum’s hippodrome

Barnum’s Hippodrome

Barnum’s Hippodrome in flames on the night of December 23, 1873, only a month after it had opened. Grace Chapel and two other adjacent buildings were also destroyed, along with all the exhibits and all the animals but three: one camel and two elephants.



1 Brooklyn Eagle 12/24/1872

The Christmas Eve edition of The Brooklyn Eagle covered the fire story; because of the printing technology of the day, it was usally a week or more before the illustrated papers appeared with pictures of newsworthy events.



2 Brooklyn Eagle 12/24/1872
3Brooklyn Eagle 12/24/1872

The Brooklyn Eagle online is a project of The Brooklyn Public Library.