William Holabird News Today

Great Chicago Fire, conflagration that began on October 8, 1871, and burned until early October 10, devastating an expansive swath of the city of Chicago. The fire, the most famous in American history, claimed about 300 lives, destroyed some 17,450 buildings, and caused $200 million in damage.

CHICAGO — Chicago isn’t just an architectural capital because of its great buildings. It’s a vital forum of ideas about what makes architecture great. A case in point: this year’s crop of recommended design books. They’re all related to the city and its suburbs, but have much broader appeal. “Chicago’s Great Fire: The Destruction and Resurrection of an Iconic American City” by Carl Smith The grim toll of the Great Chicago Fire still boggles the mind â€�...