Wells Fargo recognizes 25th anniversary of Thanksgiving Day fire UPDATED November 20, 2007, 12:04pm

By Mary O'Regan

Wells Fargo is remembering the 1982 Thanksgiving Day fire that destroyed the Northwestern National Bank building at a special reception today.

The event, scheduled for 3 to 5 p.m. at the Wells Fargo History museum, features an exhibit with photos and objects from the fire, such as a melted telephone, and employees who are willing to share their personal experiences. The old bank site is now home to the Wells Fargo Center.

According to information on Wells Fargo’s website, at the time, the catastrophe was the largest office fire in U.S.history, costing roughly $100 million in damage. It lasted for four days and took 150 firefighters to put out. No one was seriously hurt, but the top 11 floors of the 16-story building were destroyed. For more information, photos and stories, visit the museum’s commemoration page.

The Wells Fargo History Museum is located on the skyway level of the Wells Fargo Center at 6th & Marquette.