The U.S. Patent Office building, designed by architect Robert Mills and located in Washington, D.C., suffered a devastating fire that consumed a large portion of its documents and exhibits. On the night of December 15, 1836, the fire was first detected, and despite efforts to control the blaze, firefighters were unable to save the records stored within. This loss included a total of 9,957 patents that represented innovative American inventions up to that point, along with 7,000 models that were submitted by inventors as tangible representations of their ideas. The origins of the fire were attributed to a malfunctioning flue in the building’s heating system.The destruction caused by the fire raised immediate concerns over the preservation of intellectual property and the systems in place for documenting inventions. The aftermath compelled Congress to consider reforms surrounding patent registration and the management of significant records. As a result of the incident, the Patent Office undertook measures to improve fire safety and the safeguarding of patent materials, leading to a new building designed with the protection of documents in mind. Additionally, the loss drew public attention to the importance of documenting and safeguarding innovative ideas, which would become a foundational principle in the evolving field of intellectual property.