Brookfield Library Event: Tragedy Under the Big Top, Hartford Circus Fire

Tragedy Under the Big Top: The Hartford Circus Fire on Tuesday, April 23 at 6:30 pm in the Community Room

Eighty years ago this summer, Connecticut witnessed one of the most destructive and deadliest fires in the nation's history. On an oppressive July afternoon, a crowd of revelers mostly comprising women and children packed into the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey famed Big Top. Just minutes into the show, flames were spotted on the highly flamable canvas tent. Chaos erupted. The conflagration destroyed the massive tent in mere minutes as thousands raced to escape the collapsing inferno. So many were unlucky; 167 people would lose their lives and more than 700 were injured.

Join us for an In-Depth Examination of the Circus Fire

Come hear about the tragedy, its causes and consequences. We will also delve into the enduring and elusive mysteries of the identify of a beautiful young victim and the possibility that the fire was caused by an arsonist.

Register here