"[Ruins after the Great Fire of Oct. 1871, Chicago] Pacific Hotel." (1871). Library of Congress.
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While the cause of the fire remains unknown, there is a myth that the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 began on October 8th when a cow knocked over a lantern in a barn. However after it started, the fire spread rapidly and burned until October 10th, when rain helped ease the fire. During this period, thousands of building infrastructures were burnt down and around 300 people were killed. After the fire, reconstruction efforts boomed, which allowed for Chicago to become a hub of economic development and a major US city. Chicago became the 2nd most populous city after this fire and became a city of prosperity and hope.
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