San Antonio College Library

"This is the story of how seven urban fires - dramatic and terrible conflagrations in themselves - have together shaped the larger course of American history." "The Boston fire of 1760 set the stage for the American Revolution. The Pittsburgh fire of 1845 proved how adaptable historical memory could be. From the ashes of the Chicago fire of 1871 emerged the modern skyscraper - transforming urban living and land values - and sparking the class strife...