Chicago's Great Fire: The Destruction and Resurrection of an Iconic American City - Hardcover

The Complete History of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871

This authoritative account by acclaimed historian Carl Smith delivers the first carefully researched popular history of one of America's most iconic urban disasters. The Great Chicago Fire of October 8-10, 1871, destroyed much of a rapidly growing city and reshaped American urban development.

The Fire That Changed America

Chicago had exploded from just over 4,000 residents in 1840 to more than 330,000 by 1871. Built hastily during this breathtaking expansion, the city was largely constructed of wood. When fire began in Catherine and Patrick O'Leary's barn, it quickly spiraled beyond control, jumping branches of the Chicago River twice as it carved a relentless northeastward path through the city's three divisions.

The fire left one in three Chicago residents homeless and thousands instantly unemployed. Despite the massive destruction, the death toll remained miraculously low, a testament to the resilience and quick action of residents.

Vivid Accounts from Those Who Were There

Carl Smith builds this narrative around memorable characters both known and unknown to history, including General Philip Sheridan and Robert Todd Lincoln. Through their experiences, readers witness human nature in all its forms during crisis—panic and courage, loss and determination, despair and hope.

From Ashes to Renewal

The story of destruction becomes equally one of remarkable resurrection. Chicago rose from the ashes through local determination combined with generosity and faith from around the world. This disaster and recovery shaped the city's future and influenced urban planning across America.

Comprehensive Historical Context

Smith chronicles Chicago's rapid growth within the broader context of America's post-Civil War expansion. As Franklyn Bliss Snyder Professor of English and American Studies and Professor of History, Emeritus, at Northwestern University, Smith brings decades of expertise in Chicago history. His previous works include Urban Disorder and the Shape of Belief and The Plan of Chicago: Daniel Burnham and the Remaking of the American City.

Published by Atlantic Monthly Press in hardcover, this comprehensive account arrives as the fire approaches its 150th anniversary, finally giving this epic event its proper place in American history.