Boston, Massachusetts: Site of the Cocoanut Grove Nightclub Horror
Two plaques, one embedded in the sidewalk, mark the spot formerly occupied by the Cocoanut Grove nightclub, which caught fire and killed 490 people in 1942.
- Address:
- Piedmont St., Boston, MA
- Directions:
- Sidewalk plaque is on the northeast corner of Cocoanut Grove Lane and Piedmont St. The small green wall plaque is a half-block further east on Piedmont St.
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On November 28, 1942, a fire swept through the Cocoanut Grove nightclub, killing more than 490 people. Overcrowding, locked exit doors, and toxic flammable furnishings all contributed to the death toll, the highest in the history of Boston. Fire safety codes and public building regulations were strengthened and the treatment of burn injuries and smoke inhalation changed dramatically. Wonder why public doors must push out? It's partially because of this tragedy. A Bostonian Society commemorative plaque in the sidewalk at the corner marks the area. Another plaque on a wall up the block also explains the tragedy.
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The sidewalk plaque, which was installed in 1993, was "crafted by Anthony P. Marra, youngest survivor of the Cocoanut Grove fire." The former nightclub site is now occupied by a parking garage.