George Munger, The President’s House, c. 1814-15, courtesy The White House Historical Association.

August 24, 1814 — the day that the British came to Washington and lit it ablaze. Certainly the most memorable moment of the War of 1812, the Burning of Washington was conducted by British forces in retaliation for Americans’ burning of the city of York (now Toronto) in 1813, and remains the only time since the 1780s that the American capital has been occupied under a foreign flag.

About 4,000 British soldiers made their way into Washington from the east from the Chesapeake Bay and cut through a futile American defense at Bladensburg along the way. They arrived to a mostly deserted town, as word had spread and many residents fled. The British came in along the route of what is now Maryland Avenue NE, eventually stopping at the intersection of 2nd Street and Constitution Avenue NE. A few residents who stayed behind opened fire on the British from a home at that intersection, but they were easily overcome and the house they were firing from was set on fire — thus began the British march through the city. The British set fire to the Capitol (though the rotunda had not yet been constructed), and made their way through the town to the White House, to which they famously lit ablaze. The fire attack continued to several other buildings, including the Treasury and most of the Washington Navy Yard.

But despite the massive destruction, there are some fantastic stories to be found from the Burning. Here are three.