The Destruction of the 1871 Chicago Fire Captured in Photographs

After the Great Fire, ordinances in Chicago were changed such that buildings within the downtown area had to be constructed of stone or brick instead of wood. In suburban areas, like Oak Park, wooden houses could be built after the fire but only on lots that were 1.5 times the regular lot size so that if a fire broke out it would not spread. With the destruction seen in these photos its no wonder that the building codes were changed so drastically.