The Atlanta History Center recounts the events of the The Great Atlanta Fire of 1917 in commemoration of the 95th anniversary today, May 21. The fire devastated much of the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood, cutting a wide swath from south of Edgewood Avenue  to Ponce de Leon Avenue.

The fire was one of the most significant disasters in the history of Atlanta, consuming 300 acres and destroyed more than 1,900 businesses, churches, and homes. And, it took the tireless efforts of firefighters from not only Atlanta, but nearby counties and states as far as South Carolina, Florida and Tennessee to contain the fire.

The live blog will post real-time descriptions, accounts, and images of the fire throughout the day. Visit www.atlantahistorycenter.com to access the blog.

Collin Kelley

Collin Kelley has been the editor of Atlanta Intown for two decades and has been a journalist and freelance writer for 35 years. He’s also an award-winning poet and novelist.