The Great Chicago Fire (1871) had an unprecedented impact on urban form shaping cities across North America for the half century before WW2.

After a dry summer, Chicago was set ablaze one October night. It was the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. An inferno that destroyed nearly half the city. Beyond the tragedy, it had an unprecedented impact on urban form. An impact that would shape city development methods across North America for more than half a century.

Chicagoland on the rise

The Great Chicago Fire of 1871

The industrial revolution was still in its infancy and Chicago was one of the most important cities in country. It was the fastest growing city in the world. As major trade port, Chicago had a population of just over 110,000 in 1860. By 1870, there it had nearly tripled in size to 300,000.

The night of October 9th, a fire broke out in a barn on the west side of the Chicago River. Firefighters were dispatched initially to the wrong location. By the time they made it to the right place, wind had spread the fire northeast. Counter to the beliefs of authorities, the fire managed to cross the river into the central business district. The presence of industrial activity along the river along with flammable contaminants in the water probably helped. The fire lasted for just over 30 hours destroying the entire center of Chicago. In total, the damage was estimated at $200 million and it rendered about 100,000 people homeless.

The city rises again

In the years following the fire, rebuilding was rapid. In less than 10 years following the fire, Chicago grew to reach a population of half a million. They used the debris from the fire to create a new part of the city over Lake Michigan. This area now is home to Grant and Millennium Parks as well as the Art Institute. And before the turn of the century, in 1893, the city would be home to more than 1 million people and was host of the World’s Columbian Exposition. An event which saw more than 27 million visitors while open. Considering the devastation that occurred less than 20 years ago, the city needed to rely on a new approach to urban form. A form that would spread to cities across the continent.

Building up

About 15 years Before the Great Chicago Fire, two new technologies emerged as part of the industrial revolution that changed the way cities were built. In 1855, a method for mass producing steel cheaply was patented. 2 years later, the first elevator was open to the public in a new building in New York City. Slow to integrate into mainstream building practice, it was Chicago who took the plunge. By 1885, Chicago had built the first skyscraper in North America. The 10-storey Chicago Home Insurance building used a more fire resistant steel frame. Up until this point, the vast majority of structures in the city were built from wood. This new type of building form was used to rebuild the downtown. And during this time, Chicago became known for it’s leadership in modern building design with steel framing. As a result, the Chicago School became known for producing designers that would spread steel frame design theory into practice in cities across the country.

New York City garnered the spotlight during the early 20th century for the skyscraper boom. But many forget that the skyscraper was born and tested in Chicago. The two ended up caught in a “race for the sky” during the art deco age. And while New York City, (a city about 4 times the size) would eventually win, it would be with unproven building methods catalyzed by the aftermath of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

Chicago skylines across the world

Chicago architecture reemerged with strength in the second half of the 20th century with firms like SOM leading the way. While works like the John Hancock Centre and the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) were two of the tallest buildings in the world when built, Chicago firms continue to build the tallest skyscrapers in the world in other cities.

VIDEO (mini-documentary) – Great Chicago Fire 1871

[Sources / Literature: Chicagoh, History.com, Popular Mechanics, A view on cities, City of Chicago]