One June 29, 1613 Shakespeare’s original Globe Theater burnt to the ground during a performance of Henry VIII. The canon used for special effects was loaded with gunpowder and wadding, and the thatched roof of the theater caught on fire. It is not known whether there were any casualties. (But there probably were!?)

In 1614 the Globe Theatre was rebuilt and referred to as Globe 2. This is a sketch of Globe 2 for inclusion in Wenceslas Hollar’s “Long view of London”, 1644.

A modern reconstruction of the Globe, named “Shakespeare’s Globe” opened in 1997 approximately 750 feet (230 m) from the site of the original theatre.