The Great Chicago Fire
Today is the anniversary of several deadly wildfires that took place in 1871. While it was not the deadliest— that label went to the Peshtigo Fire in Wisconsin— the Great Chicago Fire tends to be the one people remember, not least because observers turned it into anti-immigrant propaganda even before the flames had died out.
A short history of the facts behind the popular memory of the Great Chicago Fire.
(This is not tonight’s letter, by the way. It’s just cool history, and I don’t get to do enough of that lately.)
Chicago is under siege by the fascists now. Governor Pritzker and Mayor Johnson are defending the city. You are a national treasure, Heather. I wrote a song for you, inspired by your bravery. It’s called letters from a democracy defender: https://democracydefender2025.substack.com/p/heather-cox-richardson-song-letters
Thank you for the pure history lesson!