JANUARY
25, 1865:
A destructive fire breaks
out in “The Castle” of the Smithsonian Institution. Much historical
correspondence and a trove of scientific reports perish in the flames. The fire
is later blamed on a defective flue, but Confederate sabotage is a possibility.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6aptgMWkpo6EXJhEXAG3DjuIxk6ZOUrH3QfXLuKwbDBGV9IisSKwag2LiRJ7DaG8JH_Mw_26pajjyMjFihJ5R1WNqzRD601Z_tmB41XpnahN7TJytHgQsqsmkiDpJXijNWFtTv9JhU0/s1600/Smithsonian.jpg)