The Burning of The City Hall, New York, August 18, 1858

The Burning of The City Hall, New York, August 18, 1858

The illustration of the burning of New York’s City Hall was featured on the cover of the Harper’s Weekly Magazine published on August 28, 1858. The fire took place on the night of Tuesday, August 17, 1858 and lasted until three, the morning of the eighteenth. This event was originally a celebration for the success of the Trans-Atlantic Cable Line that had been laid across the ocean to connect America to the New World. There were celebratory fireworks shot off the roof of City Hall and then happened to catch it on fire, causing complete chaos. I believe Harper’s Weekly wanted the nation to understand the significance of this technological advancement. Therefore, I believe the magazine used this image on the front page to draw the attention of their national audience, so the writers could further explain, within the subsequent articles, how they accomplished this technological success. This image could serve as a metaphor to the growth of the city itself. The appreciation and excitement for the new technological advancement lead to more chaos in the end, which is similar to how some viewed New York at the time. People were intrigued by the rapid expansion of the city, but it was through this industrial growth New York took on a new identity many viewed as chaotic. This image can also be compared to George Foster’s view of the city as a hellish place. The features of the image, such as the fire, darkness, and mass amounts of people surrounding it relate the industrious, hectic city that changed so rapidly, taking on a whole new corrupted way of life. I think the background story to the image also correlates to the ideas of Foster, as he explains how New York quickly became a place of growth, industry, technology, and diversity. Many People looked for opportunity, and when they were able to see incredible advancements were taking place in this newly popular city it drew their attention.

“A Burning of The City Hall, New York, August 18, 1858.” Harper’s Weekly Magazine: A Journal of Civilization 28 Aug. 1858: 545. Print.

Harper's Weekly Magazine

September 17, 2015

Taylor Caldwell

1858