How the Fires of 1788 and 1794 Changed New Orleans

Throughout history, great cities have been destroyed by great fires. London. New York. Chicago. Great fires that brought about great changes.

Spanish colonial New Orleans also experienced great fires—two, in fact—in 1788 and 1794. Out of those disasters, the city was reborn—a New Orleans that was safer, more urban, and more prepared for the expansion and growth that followed.

The first fire began in the afternoon on March 21, 1788. Fed by strong winds, the flames eventually destroyed 856 of the over 1,100 buildings in the city. 

In that fire, most of the buildings lost were made of wood, but those included some of the city’s most prominent structures: the church and presbytery, along with numerous church records; the municipal building; the barracks; the armory with all its arms; most of the businesses, including all of the bakeries; and many of the principal mansions of the city. 

The Spanish administration sprang into action, arranging for temporary housing in tents and providing rations for those who had lost everything. 

The city survived and began to rebuild, but just six years later, the second fire destroyed over 200 buildings. This second, smaller fire of December 8, 1794, began in nearly the same area and destroyed much of what had just been rebuilt.

After the fires, the government sought to prevent a third great fire. They created fire patrols, employing both white and free Black militia members. They developed new building codes that required slate or tile roofs and walls of stronger bricks covered with stucco. And with the new buildings set flush to the sidewalks, there were no more gardens and yards surrounding them to catch fire. Interior courtyards were accessed through narrow alleyways or carriageways, and balconies held iron railings.

New Orleans not only proved safer thanks to these building codes, but it also took on a new look, as houses were rebuilt in different styles than before. What had been an almost pastoral, French-looking town began to resemble cities throughout the Spanish American empire, like Havana, San Juan, and Cartagena.

Although destructive, the fires paved the way for the city’s growth over the next decade. The economy and population of New Orleans increased, leading to a denser city center with more and taller buildings and expansion beyond the confines of the old Quarter. 

If you’d like to learn more about this and other topics related to our exhibition Spanish New Orleans and the Caribbean, join us at the Historic New Orleans Collection at 520 Royal Street in the French Quarter. Visit our website for more details.