History for the day

On 8 October 1871, around nine o'clock in the evening, a fire started in the O'Leary's barn at 13 DeKoven Street, and quickly spread throughout Chicago's business district. Although legends hold O'Leary's cow responsible for causing the fire, the actual source is still unknown.
The blaze raged for two days, killing hundreds, destroying millions of dollars in property, leaving thousands homeless, and ravaging almost four square miles.
From the smoldering ashes, the citizens of Chicago began to rebuild. The resulting boom in made Chicago one of the most populous, most economically profitable, and most modern cities in the United States. The Great Chicago Fire was a tragedy, but out of this disaster emerged the modern metropolis of Chicago.