The Great Fire

October 8-10, 1871

Chicago Objective #3

During Sunday night, Monday, and Tuesday, this city has been swept by a conflagration which has no parallel in the annals of history, for the quantity of property destroyed, and the utter and almost irremediable ruin which it wrought. A fire in a barn on the West Side was the insignificant cause of a conflagration which has swept out of existence hundreds of millions of property, has reduced to poverty thousands who, the day before, were in a state of opulence, has covered the prairies, now swept with the cold southwest wind, with thousands of homeless unfortunates, which has stripped 3,600 acres of buildings, which has destroyed public improvements that it has taken years of patient labor to build up, and which has set back 100 years the progress of the city, diminished her population, and crushed her resources.

Chicago Tribune, October 11, 1871

Total Humans
350000 300000 250000 200000 150000 100000 50000 0 1830 1840 1850 1860 1870 Total Humans

 Burned for 36 consecutive hours.

Gale force winds fanned flames. Destroyed 18,000 Homes, 34 City Blocks, 73

Miles of Roads, and a 1x4 Mile Area 1/3 of Chicagos Residents were now Homeless Estimated losses valued at $3,000,000
($545 M in 2012 currency)

Only 300 Deaths. Began on DeKoven Street in home of George

and Patrick OLeary.

But to a blow, no matter how terrible, Chicago will not succumb. Take as it is the season, general as the rule is, the spirit of her citizens has not given way, and before the smoke has cleared away, and the ruins are cold, they are beginning to plan for the future. Though so many have been deprived of homes and sustenance, aid in money and provisions is flowing in from all quarters, and which of the primal distress will be alleviated before another day has gone by.
Chicago Tribune, October 11, 1871