chicago

In August 1875, ground-breaking ceremonies were held and construction begun on the new city hall and county buildings designed by James J. Egan in a colonnaded French Renaissance style as a dual structure for joint occupancy by city and county. With the money to go ahead, the county began...

Chicago circa 1910. State Street north from Madison.

Originally conceived to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus's discovery of America, the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 was one of the largest (633 acres) and most influential aggregations of human talent, energy, and industry ever assembled. More than 27 million visitors entered...

The Great Chicago Fire was a conflagration that burned in the American city of Chicago during October 8 - 10, 1871. The fire killed approximately 300 people, destroyed roughly 3.3 square miles (9 km2) of the city including over 17,000 structures, and left more than 100,000 residents homeless...

Chicago Fire of 1871. Interior of Post Office.

Chicago Fire of 1871. Illinois Central Rail Road Land Office.

Chicago Fire of 1871. Historical Building.

Chicago Fire of 1871. First National Bank.

Chicago Fire of 1871. Court House Through Ruins of Fifth National Bank.

Chicago Fire of 1871. Adams House.

Chicago pre-fire. Union Depot.

At the time of the Great Chicago Fire, October 1871, Rush Medical College stood at Grand Avenue and Indiana Street (now Grand and Dearborn.) The Rush Medical College building was destroyed completely in the Great Chicago Fire. Students had just completed their first week of courses the Friday...

Chicago pre-fire. St. Paul's Church.

Chicago pre-fire. Washington St. Tunnel.

Chicago pre-fire. Michigan Southern Depot.

Chicago pre-fire. Booksellers Row.

Chicago pre-fire. St. James Church.

Chicago Fire of 1871. West Wing of Court House.

Chicago Fire of 1871. W.B.Keen Cooke & Co. State Street.

Chicago Fire of 1871. St. James Hotel.