1871 Chicago Fire and Agnes’ House Part II: The Night Chicago Burned By Leu Seyer – November 5, 2025 Chicago Before the Fire Chicago's development in the nineteenth century was fueled by a large influx of foreign immigrants and internal migrants, all of whom transformed the city into a vibrant industrial and cultural hub (Chicago Historical Society, 2005; PBS, n.d.). However, this progress was sharply interrupted by the Great Fire of 1871, which destroyed entire neighborhoods and prompted a reevaluation of urban planning. Rather than serving as a complete setback, the disaster strengthened Chicago's story of resilience and propelled its