Remembering the 1944 Hartford Circus Fire - NBC Chicago

What happened?

A historian and the daughter of a survivor explain what happened on July 6, 1944.

The tent canvas burned quickly because it had been coated with paraffin wax that had been diluted with gasoline, which was considered a waterproofing technique at the time.

Connecticut Historical Society

Explaining the Artifacts

Ilene Frank, chief curator of the Connecticut Historial Society, explains the significance of the artifacts collected from the 1944 circus fire.


What happens next?

Here's a look behind the scientific process that goes into exhuming a body and testing the DNA.

360-Degree View of Northwood Cemetery

The five unidentified victims of the Hartford Circus Fire are buried at Northwood Cemetery in Windsor.

What Started the Fire?

There was a lot of anger in the grieving community after the fire. Ilene Frank of the Connecticut Historical Society explains some of the theories behind what caused the fire, and who took the blame.