Great Chicago Fire was finally extinguished on this day in 1871. The exact cause is unknown. The most prominent theory is that a cow in the O’Leary barn kicked over a lantern. High winds, dry weather along with the fact that many of the buildings of that time were constructed of wood contributed to the devastation the fire caused. When rains finally came to wash out the last remaining ambers of the fire 300 people had died, thousands of buildings were destroyed and caused $200 million dollars in damage ($4 billion in 2016 dollars), and left more than 100,000 homeless. Despite the devastation Chicago’s physical infrastructures such as transformation remained mostly intact. Following the fire there was great economic development and population growth as a modern city rose from the ashes. . . #repeatedhistory #historygeek #historynerd #history #historytour #historical #historic #historia #historypics #ilovehistory #historymade #historyiscool #historylesson #followme #historyclass #americanhistory #historyfacts #chicago #chicagofire #disasters https://www.instagram.com/p/Bow1v4Hlo66/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=11e1vsb0cm0sy
