Uploaded September 2014 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The Great Chicago Fire started in a small barn on the city's near south side. This small fire grew into an uncontrollable blaze that burned for 36 hours. The fire has come to symbolize a city's rebirth and created the foundation for the Chicago known today. The Rookery was one of the early terra cotta clad, fireproof building constructed after the fire. Visit architecture.org/buildings to learn more about Chicago’s most iconic buildings and discover how Chicago’s rich architectural legacy was built.
The Great Chicago Fire started in a small barn on the city's near south side. This small fire grew into an uncontrollable blaze that burned for 36 hours. The fire has come to symbolize a city's rebirth and created the foundation for the Chicago known today. The Rookery was one of the early terra cotta clad, fireproof building constructed after the fire. Visit architecture.org/buildings to learn more about Chicago’s most iconic buildings and discover how Chicago’s rich architectural legacy was built.
