The Burning of Chicago
Currier & Ives
1871
This terrible Conflagration commenced on Sunday evening, October 8th, 1871, and continued until stopped by rain on Tuesday morning, October 10th, consuming the whole of the Business portion of the City, all the Public Buildings, Hotels, Newspaper Offices, and Rail Road Depots, and extending over an area of Five square miles. It is estimated that upward of 500 lives were lost 150,000 people were rendered homeless, and property to the amount of $200,000,000 were destroyed.
The Burning of the Chicago River
Currier & Ives
1871
Currier and Ives painting of the Chicago River and lake front in flames
The Burning of the Chicago River
Currier & Ives
1871
This terrible Conflagration commenced on Sunday evening, October 8th, 1871, and continued until stopped by rain on Tuesday morning, October 10th, consuming the whole of the Business portion of the City, all the Public Buildings, Hotels, Newspaper Offices, and Rail Road Depots, and extending over an area of Five square miles. It is estimated that upward of 500 lives were lost 150,000 people were rendered homeless, and property to the amount of $200,000,000 were destroyed.
Two reproductions of lithographs published by Currier & Ives in 1871, are printed on this page. The upper one presents the artist’s conception of an incident during the conflagration, which, on October 8th and 9th of that year, swept the city of 300,000. The lower scene pictures one of the frequently encountered hazards which made venturesome the operation of the early transcontinental railways.
Chicago Sunday Tribune
October 9, 1932
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