In 1812 , a fire destroyed the luxurious Mansion House hotel , which had been popular with the Beaver Club and had housed the first public library in Montreal . It was replaced by the British-American Hotel , which contained the John Molson-built Royal Theatre , the city 's first permanent theatre . The hotel burned in 1833 , and was rebuilt in 1845 at the Bonsecours Market . In 1849 , a riot caused a fire with political consequences when , protesting against a law , a Tory crowd burned down the Parliament building in the old Marché Saint-Anne on Place d'Youville . The site of the Parliament fire housed Montreal 's first fire station in 1903 ; the building still exists as the Centre d’histoire de Montréal
burned down the Parliament building
Burning of the Parliament Buildings in Montreal
Old Montreal