NATCHEZ — Approximately 209 lives will be remembered Saturday honoring the 75th anniversary of one of the deadliest fires in U.S. history.

On April 23, 1940, a fire sparked at the Rhythm Night Club at 5 St. Catherine St. during a performance by Chicago Walter Barnes and his Royal Creolians.

The fire claimed 209 of the nearly 700 people inside, changing fire codes across the nation, said Rhythm Night Club Museum co-owner Monroe Sago.

Sago owns the museum with his wife, Betty Sago. Both established the museum in 2010 on the site of the disaster in order to share the stories of those who were taken by the fire and those who survived.

The Sagos will host a commemoration ceremony at the museum at noon on Saturday and will include stories of the fire, refreshments and entertainment.

Sago said guests from Atlanta to Texas will be present at the event, including up to three survivors from the fire 75 years ago.

“It’s very emotional to hear the stories of the survivors,” Sago said. “Some people made it out the fire while some of their friends or siblings didn’t make it out.”

Sago said if the survivors would not be able to attend, the survivors’ children would attend the event in their place.

Those who attend will not only be welcomed with free refreshments and entertainment, but attendees will have the chance to tour the museum for free with the option to provide a monetary donation.

“It’s going to be an outside church event,” Sago said. “We are going to do everything on the ground. We will sing, praise dance and give a scholarship away.”

Each year the owners give a scholarship away to an area high school senior who has visited the museum and conducted a research paper on the Rhythm Night Club.

Although the event starts at noon, Sago said those who plan to attend should be present by 11:30 a.m.

“We will have fire trucks on hand that will give us three loud alarms,” he said. “It represents what happened in the past. This is to grab everyone’s attention and remind them of the tragic day.”

Sago said several guest speakers will be on hand, including Adams County Sheriff Chuck Mayfield.

The Rhythm Night Club Museum is located on 5 St. Catherine St. in downtown Natchez.