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All the United States New York State New York City Manhattan The Brown Building

The Brown Building

The site of the deadly Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire.

New York, New York

Added By
Oliver Hong
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The building today.   tylercole / Atlas Obscura User
Main Plaque.   tylercole / Atlas Obscura User
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About

On March 25, 1911, the Triangle Shirtwaist Company, which made a style of popular women's blouse, caught fire.

The employees had little chance of escaping the flames. The stairwells were locked, the fire escape buckled, and the elevator had a carrying capacity of 15. A total of 146 of the company's 500 employees, most of them Jewish women, died either from the flames, the smoke, or from fatal injuries suffered after jumping in an attempt to escape.

This single incident is responsible for most of the first worker and fire safety standards put in place by the United States government. The fire was New York City's deadliest workplace incident until the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

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It's accessible from N and R trains at 8th Street Station. The building is currently part of NYU and houses the chemistry labs. There is a plaque on the building and a commemoration ceremony held annually on the anniversary of the fire. 

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Added By

Oliver Hong

Edited By

rosiechabon, importfuture, apansky, tylercole...

  • rosiechabon
  • importfuture
  • apansky
  • tylercole
  • jnthnnvk
  • MtnLady

Published

February 28, 2012

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The Brown Building
23-29 Washington Place
New York, New York, 10003
United States
40.730076, -73.995398
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