"San Francisco Burned District",

This fascinating and dramatic map was produced by William H. Lee and published by Laird & Lee in Chicago. It vividly depicts large red flames consuming a huge swath of San Francisco - a devastating fire that burned for three days and consuming buildings in more than 500 blocks in today's financial district. An inset at bottom left underscores the magnitude of the fire, comparing it to the smaller fires in Baltimore and Chicago. Despite the alarming map and inset, the "Plain Facts" intended to reassure the audience: "The public must not conclude, from the graphic descriptions and many scenes of the burned district, that the beautiful Golden Gate city has been entirely destroyed…The new San Francisco will be grander and more beautiful.”

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Condition: B+

Issued folding with a short fold separation at lower right and a 2" edge tear at left that have both been closed on verso with archival tape. There is a small cut at top left with small loss of border.