In a spectacular and destructive fire, P.T. Barnum's American Museum burns to the ground in New York City

What Confederate agents could not achieve the previous November was accomplished by accident when a spectacular overnight fire destroyed P. T. Barnum's American Museum on the corner of Park Row and Ann Street in New York City.  The fire began in the basement around noon.  Fire companies fought the blaze all day but the museum and almost all of its contents, including the animals in its exotic zoo, were destroyed.  (By John Osborne)