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Chicago Historical Society
A rich source of historical information on Chicago. Search through entries, historical sources, maps, and special features.
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: After the Chicago Fire [Pdf]
"After the Chicago Fire" is a one page, non-fiction, reading passage about how Chicago was rebuilt after the great fire. It is followed by constructed-response questions which require students to provide evidence from the story; it...
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The Great Peshtigo Fire Page
Forgotten in the fame of the Chicago Fire, Peshtigo suffered even more in the toll of dead, injured, and total destruction.
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Chicago Historical Society: Letter of William H. Carter on Chicago Fire
A letter written by an eye-witness of the Great Fire of 1871, it gives details about how the fire spread quickly and efforts to fight the fire.
University of Houston
University of Houston: Engines of Our Ingenuity: No. 1266: Chicago Fire
A new look at an old fire. How did it really start? Site presents some modern questions. This is a transcript of an accompanying radio broadcast.
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Chicagology.com: The Great Fire of 1871
Comprehensive site about the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Includes historical information on the start of the fire, the spread of the fire, the destruction and damage caused by the fire, and the fire's aftermath. Also includes picture...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Grant Park [Pdf]
"Grant Park" is a one page, nonfiction passage about Chicago creating a landfill by putting the trash from the Chicago fire in 1971 into the lake, on which they built Grant Park. It is followed by an open-ended question which requires...
University of Michigan
Making of America: The Lost City!
This site from the University of Michigan provides the full text of "The Lost City!" published a bare year after the Chicago fire; includes illustrations and accounts of the fire.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Evaluating Eyewitness Reports
In this lesson, students practice working with primary documents by comparing accounts of the Chicago Fire and testing the credibility of a Civil War diary.
Curated OER
Two Men in the Ruins of the Chicago Fire. Credit: Corbis.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, NPR discusses past natural disasters in U.S. history, the challenges and the rebuilding. From the Great Chicago Fire in 1871 to Hurricane Andrew in 1992, read about the events that changed peoples lives.
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Chicago Historical Society: Bygone Days in Chicago
A great primary source, a extensive description of Chicago prior to the Great Fire by a reporter who worked on the Chicago Times. He describes Chicago as it was around 1862.
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Chicago Historical Society: Alexander Hesler Climbs the Court House
This resource provides pictures of Chicago from the roof tops.
Chicago History Museum
Chicago Historical Society: A Scrapbook of Chicago Photographs and Drawings
Printable drawings and photos about events in Chicago's history, such as the Great Fire of 1871, and of Chicago's architectural landmarks.
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Raging Fire After the San Francisco Earthquake. Credit: Corbis.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, NPR discusses past natural disasters in U.S. history, the challenges and the rebuilding. From the Great Chicago Fire in 1871 to Hurricane Andrew in 1992, read about the events that changed peoples lives.
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Library of Congress: Ruins After the Great Fire of Chicago: Courthouse
The ruins of the Chicago courthouse after the 1871 fire.
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People Stand Amid the Destruction in Johnstown
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, NPR discusses past natural disasters in U.S. history, the challenges and the rebuilding. From the Great Chicago Fire in 1871 to Hurricane Andrew in 1992, read about the events that changed peoples lives.
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Flooding in New Orleans From Hurricane Betsy. Credit: Corbis.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, NPR discusses past natural disasters in U.S. history, the challenges and the rebuilding. From the Great Chicago Fire in 1871 to Hurricane Andrew in 1992, read about the events that changed peoples lives.
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Flooded Streets in Greenville, Miss. Credit: Corbis.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, NPR discusses past natural disasters in U.S. history, the challenges and the rebuilding. From the Great Chicago Fire in 1871 to Hurricane Andrew in 1992, read about the events that changed peoples lives.
Curated OER
A Destroyed Building in Galveston. Credit: Corbis.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, NPR discusses past natural disasters in U.S. history, the challenges and the rebuilding. From the Great Chicago Fire in 1871 to Hurricane Andrew in 1992, read about the events that changed peoples lives.
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Trailer Park Destroyed by Hurricane Andrew. Credit: Corbis.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, NPR discusses past natural disasters in U.S. history, the challenges and the rebuilding. From the Great Chicago Fire in 1871 to Hurricane Andrew in 1992, read about the events that changed peoples lives.
Curated OER
Vanport. Photo Courtesy of the City of Portland Parks & Recreation.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, NPR discusses past natural disasters in U.S. history, the challenges and the rebuilding. From the Great Chicago Fire in 1871 to Hurricane Andrew in 1992, read about the events that changed peoples lives.