Buildings erected before 1871 were products of the brick mason and carpenter. The architects at the time were there merely for embellishment of the building.
The Pre-Fire Gallery below is the largest on-line collection of Pre-Chicago Fire images in the world.
34-36 Lake Street, Corner Lake and Wabash
A.M.N. Express Office, NW corner Dearborn and Lake
Academy of Design, Adams, between State and Dearborn.
Academy of Music, Washington, between Clark and Dearborn
Adam’s House I, NW corner Lake and Michigan
Aetna Building. LaSalle, between Madison and Washington
Aiken’s Museum, 115-117 Dearborn
Andrew’s building, La Salle, between Madison and Monroe.
Andrews & Otis’s building, Clark, bet. Monroe and Adams.
Arcade Building, Clark, between Madison and Monroe
Armory Police Court, SW corner Franklin and Adams
Armour Building I, NE corner. Michigan ave. and Randolph st.
Artesian Wells
Barnes House, corner Randolph and Canal
Julius Bauer Pianos, 99 Clark
Berlin Block, corner State and Madison
Bigelow Hotel, SW corner Adams and Dearborn
Blake’s building, Washington, bet. Fifth avenue and Franklin.
E. W. Blatchford & Chicago Shot Tower Co.
Board of Trade I , SE corner LaSalle and Washington
Bookseller’s Row , State, between Washington and Madison
Boone block, La Salle, between Washington and Madison.
Bowen Block
Bowen’s Building, Randolph, bet. Michigan and Wabash ave.
Bradner Smith, South Water, between Dearborn and Clark
Mr. Brand’s Temple of Art
Brigg’s House, NE corner Wells and Randolph – Not Destroyed
Brunswick & Co. Manufactory, Randolph, between State and Dearborn
Bryan block, corner La Salle and Monroe.
Bryan’s Hall Clark street, across from Courthouse.
Bull’s Head Tavern, West Madison street, Ogden avenue, and Ashland avenue.
Burch’s House, NE corner Lake and Wabash
Calhoun block, Clark, between Washington and Madison.
Calvary Cemetery, Evanston, IL
Camp Douglas, Thirty-first Street and Cottage Grove Avenue
Carbutt’s Photography Studios
Carbutt’s Panorama
Carbutt’s Biographical Sketches of the Leading Men of Chicago
Central Block, NE corner Market and Washington
Central House.
Chamber of Commerce I , SE corner LaSalle and Washington
Chapin & Wells Wood Yard, 12th and Clark Streets
Charles Tobey Furniture
Chicago Crib
Chicago House of Correction (The Bridewell), 26th and California
Chicago Historical Society I, SE corner N. Dearborn & Ontario
Chicago Central High School
Chicago Clearing House Association, 82 Dearborn street.
Chicago Mutual Life Insurance building, Fifth avenue, between Washington and Randolph.
Chicago Orphan Asylum
Chicago Shot Tower Co.
Chicago Times I, Dearborn, between Washington and Madison.
Chicago City Water Works, corner Chicago avenue and Pine.
Chicago Tribune Building I SE corner Dearborn and Madison
Chicago’s Elevators
1847-1850—Chicago’s First Daguerreotypists
Chicago’s Suburbs
Church, Goodman & Donnelley
City Hotel, SE corner State and Lake
City National Bank, 156 Washington street.
City Water Works, corner Chicago and Pine
Clarendon House
Clarke School, 13th Street and Reuben (Ashland)
Cleveland House, corner Clark and Kinzie
Clifton House, SE corner Madison and Wabash
Coan & Ten Broeke Carriage, Northwest corner of Randolph and Ann streets
Cobb’s Block, corner Lake and Wabash avenue.
Cobb’s block, Washington, between Clark and Dearborn.
Cobb’s Building, Dearborn, bet. Washington and Madison.
Commercial Building, corner La Salle and Lake.
Commercial Loan Company, 44 North Clark street.
Commercial Insurance Company’s Building, Washington, between La Salle and Fifth avenue.
Cooley, Farwell & Co., NE Corner Wabash Avenue and Benton Place (Wabash, Between Lake and Randolph)
Courthouse I, SE corner of Lake and Clark streets,
Courthouse II NE corner of LaSalle and Randolph Streets.
Courthouse III State street, between Randolph and Lake streets
Courthouse IV Randolph and Washington, between Clark and LaSalle
Crane Brothers Manufacturing Co.,
Crosby’s Building, State, bet. Randolph and Washington.
Crosby Opera House , Washington, between Dearborn and State
Culver, Page & Hoyne Building
Custom House, NW corner Dearborn and Monroe
Dearborn House, NW Corner Lake Street and Michigan Avenue
Dearborn Park
Dearborn School No. 1
Dearborn Street Theatre
De Haven Block, Dearborn, between Quincy and Jackson.
Depository Building, Randolph, bet. Clark and La Salle.
Dickey’s Building, corner Dearborn and Lake.
Dole’s Building, corner Clark and South Water.
Drake and Farwell Block, corner Wabash and Washington
John H. Dunham Mansion
Edward Ely, Tailor
European Hotel, SW corner State and Lake
Evening Post, Dearborn, between Washington and Madison
Everett House
Ewing block, North Clark, bet. North Water and Kinzie.
Exchange Bank, corner Lake and Clark.
Farwell Hall I, Madison, near SW corner Clark
Federal Savings Bank and Safe Depository I, NE Corner of State and Randolph Streets
Field, Leiter & Co. I, NE corner State and Washington
Fifth National Bank, northeast corner Clark and Dearborn.
First Baptist Church, SE corner Washington and LaSalle
First & Second Baptist Churches
First National Bank I, SW corner State and Washington
First National Bank II, SW corner State and Washington
First National Bank of Chicago I (Exchange Bank), SW Corner Lake and Clark
Fisk Building
Flander’s Block, foot South Water
Fourth National Bank, southeast corner Dearborn and Washington streets.
Fry’s Building, La Salle, bet. Washington and Randolph.
Fullerton’s Block, NW corner Washington and Dearborn.
Galena Division Depot of the C&NW Railway
Gallup building, corner La Salle and Madison.
Gambler’s Row
Gault House
Garrett Block I, SE corner Randolph and State.
German Haus
Graceland Cemetery
Grace Methodist Church
(Grand) Pacific Hotel I, corner Clark and Quincy.
Great Central Depot
Green Tree Tavern, Northeast Corner of Lake and Canal Streets, moved to Southeast Corner of Milwaukee Avenue and Fulton Street in the fall of 1880.
Hale Block I SE Corner of Washington and State Streets
Hall, Kimbark & Co., SE Corner Michigan and Lake
Hartford Fire Insurance building, La Salle, between Randolph and Lake.
Haven School
Henry B. Clarke House
Hesler Panorama
Hooley’s Opera House
Holt’s building, Washington, bet. La Salle and Fifth ave.
Honoré Block I, Dearborn, between Monroe and Adams
Illinois Central Depot
Illinois Central Land Department building, Michigan avenue, between Lake and South Water.
Iron Block, Lake, between Wabash and Michigan
Keep’s Building, Clark, between Madison and Monroe.
Kendall Block II
Kent’s Building, No. 153 Monroe.
King’s Block, NW corner Washington and Dearborn
King’s Opera House
Lake House
Lakeside Building, corner Adams and Clark.
Larmon Block, NE corner Clark and Washington
LaSalle Street Tunnel
Lincoln block, corner Lake and Franklin.
Lind’s Block, corners Randolph and Lake and Market
Link’s Block, corner La Salle and Lake.
Lloyd’s Block, corner Randolph and Fifth avenue.
Lombard Block, corner Monroe and Custom House place, between Clark and Dearborn.
Loomis Block, corner Clark and South Water.
Lord & Smith I, Lake street
Lumberman’s Exchange, corner South Water and Franklin.
Mackin’s building, State, between Madison and Monroe.
Magie’s building, corner La Salle and Randolph.
Mahlon D. Ogden’s Home, Dearborn, between Oak and Whitney – Not Destroyed
Major Block I, SE corner LaSalle and Madison
Marine Bank Building, NE corner Lake and LaSalle
Marine Hospital, parade-ground of Fort Dearborn reservation (Rineon Point)
Masonic Temple, 83 and 85 Dearborn Street
Massasoit House, SW corner South Water and Central
Matteson House, NW corner Dearborn and Randolph
McCarthy Building, NE corner Clark and Randolph.
McCarthy’s Building, corner Dearborn and Washington.
McCormick’s Block, corner Dearborn and Randolph.
McCormick Reaper and Mower Company I, North bank of the Chicago River, east of Rush Street Bridge
McCormick’s Building, corner Michigan and Lake
McKee’s building, corner Wabash ave. and Randolph.
McVicker’s Theatre I & II, Madison, between State and Dearborn
Mechanical Bakery, Clinton Street, near Lake
Mechanics’ Building, Washington, bet. La Salle and Fifth ave.
Edward Mendel—Lithographer, Engraver & Printer, Various Locations
Mercantile Building, La Salle, bet. Madison and Washington.
Merchants’, Farmers Savings Bank
Merchant’s Insurance building, NW corner of LaSalle and Washington Streets
Methodist Church block, corner Clark and Washington.
Metropolitan Hall, NW corner Randolph and LaSalle
Metropolitan Hotel, SW corner Randolph and Wells
Michigan Avenue Hotel, SW corner Michigan Ave and Congress
Michigan Southern Depot , SW corner LaSalle and Van Buren
Michigan Terrace, Michigan, between Congress and Van Buren
Monroe Building, corner Clark and Monroe.
Morrison Block I, SE corner of Madison and Clark
Mosher Gallery
Mutual Life of Chicago, Wells Street
Nevada Hotel, SW Corner of Franklin and Washington Streets
Newbury block, corner Wells and Kinzie.
Nixon Building, NE corner LaSalle and Monroe – Not Destroyed
Nixon’s Exchange, SW corner Clark and Washington
Nicolson Pavement
Norton Block, Nos. 136 and 138 South Water.
North’s Amphitheater, Monroe, near Wells
Oak Woods Cemetery
Ogden Hotel, Quincy and Jackson, between Clark and LaSalle
O’Brien’s Art Emporium, 51 State street
Old Board of Trade buildings, South Water, between La Salle and Fifth ave.
Olympic Theatre
Open Board building, Madison, bet. Clark and La Salle.
Orient House
Oriental Building, La Salle, bet. Washington and Madison.
Otis Block, corner Madison and La Salle.
Otis Building, corner State and Madison.
Palmer’s Dry Goods & Carpets, Lake Street Between Dearborn and Clark
Palmer House I, NE corner Wabash and Quincy
Pardee’s building, corner South Water and Fifth ave.
Park Row, Michigan venue near 16th Street
Phoenix Building, La Salle, bet. Randolph and Washington.
Pomeroy’s building, No. 160 South Water.
Pope’s block, Madison, between Clark and La Salle.
Portland’s Block I, SE corner Dearborn and Washington
Post Office Building, Dearborn, between Madison and Monroe
Potter Palmer’s Dry Goods Store
Prairie Farmer Building, Monroe, between, Dearborn and Clark.
Purple’s block, corner North Clark and Ontario.
Raising of Chicago
Raymond block, NW corner State and Madison.
Republic Life Building I, La Salle, between Madison and Monroe.
Revere House, NE corner Kinzie and Clark
Reynolds’ Block, SW corner Dearborn and Madison
Rice’s Building, 74 to 81 Dearborn.
Rice Theatres I and II
Richmond House, NW corner South Water and Michigan
Robbins Building I, SE Corner Wells and South Water Streets
Rosehill Cemetery
Saddlers, Lake Street
Scammon’s Building, corner Randolph and Michigan ave.
Scammon School, Madison Between Hasted and Desplaines
Peter Schuttler Wagon Works,
Peter Schuttler’s Mansion, Corner Aberdeen and Adams streets
Second Baptist Church, SE corner of Morgan and Monroe streets
Second Presbyterian Church
Shepard’s Block I, SE corner Dearborn and Monroe
Sherman House II NW corner Clark and Randolph
Shreve Building, Washington, between Dearborn and Clark
Smith & Nixon Music Hall, SW corner of Clark and Washington streets
Soldiers Home
Southern Hotel, NW corner 22nd and Wabash – Not Burned
South Water Street
Speed’s Block, Dearborn. between Washington and Madison
Staats Zeitung building, Madison, bet. Dearborn and Clark.
Stanton & Co.
Steam’s building, Washington, bet. La Salle and Fifth ave.
Steel’s block, corner La Salle and and South Water.
Stearn’s Building, Washington, between LaSalle and Fifth Avenue
Stein’s “The City of Paris”, Clark street
St Ignatius College Prep
St. James Hotel, NW corner State and Washington
St. Patrick’s Church, Desplaines and Adams
Stone’s Building, Madison, between Clark and La Salle.
Swartz Building, State Street, near Madison Street
Tanneries, Various
Taylor’s block, corner Franklin and South Water.
Terrace Row, Michigan, between Congress and Van Buren
Transit House
Tremont House III
Trinity Church
Turner’s Building, corner North State and Kinzie.
Turner Hall, Clark, between Chicago and Pine
Two-Mile Crib
Tyler block, La Salle, between Lake and South Water.
Uhlic block, North Clark, between Kinzie and Water.
Union Building, SW corner LaSalle and Washington
Union Depot
Union Pacific Day
Union Stockyards
Unity Church I
University of Chicago
U.S. Express Office, NW corner Lake and Clark
U.S. Marine Hospitals, 4141 N Clarendon
Volk’s Marble Works, 197 Washington.
Wabash Ave Methodist Church
Wabash Ice Rink
Walker’s block, Dearborn, between Lake and Randolph.
Walworth & Hubbard, Lake Street, between Wells and La Salle
John R. Walsh’s News Depot, SW corner of Madison and Dearborn Streets
Warner’s Block, 123 and 125 Randolph.
Washington’s Block, Clark, bet. Washington and Madison.
Washington Street Tunnel
Wheeler’s Block, corner Clark and South Water.
Wicker’s building, corner State and South Water.
Wigwam, SE corner of Lake and Market
Wood’s Museum, 115-117 Dearborn
Wright Brother’s building, corner North State and Kinzie.
Young Men’s Association Library, NW corner Randolph and LaSalle
Prominent Chicago Pre-Fire Events
1828—Chicago’s First Wedding
1830—Chicago as a Hunting Post
1855—Raising of Chicago
1857—The Chicago Magazine – A six-issue publication about Chicago.
1858—Lincoln-Douglas Debates
1861—Whitefield’s Views of Chicago
1865—Lincoln Funeral
1866—Chicago Illustrated
1867—Guide for Travelers to Chicago
1868—Chicago
1868—Englewood
1871—The Fire Before The Great Fire
Pages to be Reassigned
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