On the 6th of July, 1944, the circus came to Hartford, Connecticut. Excited residents crowded into the big top to watch a performance unrivalled in that day and age: trained lions and tigers, daredevil stunts, a menagerie of exotic creatures, and a series of acrobatic marvels. Around 7,000 people filed into the huge canvas enclosure to enjoy the show… but before the afternoon’s entertainment could draw to a close, one of the worst temporary building fires in US history would claim the lives of nearly 170 of the audience and performers.