Join us for a look back at the Great Chicago Fire on the 150th anniversary of the event.
2021 marks the 150th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire. Olivia Sobieraj, a Hinsdale native, will present a look back at one of the most important events of Chicago history!
In 1871, two years before Hinsdale was incorporated, a fire decimated Chicago. In just over 24 hours, the Great Chicago Fire burned through 2,000 acres, killing 300 people, and leaving one third of the city’s population homeless. The effects of this tragedy can still be felt today in the city of Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. As newly homeless Chicagoans fled their charred city, suburbs along the train lines (like Hinsdale) saw their populations tick up. Yet Chicago wouldn’t be buried. Despite the devastation, Chicago rose from the ashes like a phoenix to become the Second City we know today.
Please include an email address when registering and an online meeting invitation will be sent before the session.