Triangle: Remembering the Fire

Overview

On March 25, 1911, a devastating fire erupted at the Triangle Waist Company in New York City, claiming the lives of 146 workers, predominantly young immigrant women and teenage girls. Trapped on the upper floors of a ten-story building, many faced a horrific choice between burning alive or jumping to escape the flames, as the inferno engulfed the factory in a mere 18 minutes. This tragic event marked the deadliest workplace disaster in New York State until 9/11, ultimately transforming labor laws and empowering government to advocate for workers’ rights, nurturing the growth of the American middle class.