Discover Chicago’s arc from a growing 19th‑century city to a defining moment in its history.
This volume covers the period 1857 to 1871, capturing the people, events, and developments that shaped a thriving Midwestern metropolis. Rich with portraits of the men and women who built the city, it frames progress through biographical sketches, civic milestones, and a broad view of life in Chicago just before and after the great fire.
Drawn from extensive collaboration with city leaders, libraries, and newspapers, this edition emphasizes the people behind the progress—merchants, professionals, laborers, and community builders—while detailing the city’s public works, schools, transportation, and governance. It also notes the era’s dramatic moments, including the fire and its aftermath, within a carefully curated narrative that aims for accuracy and depth.
- Character portraits and everyday life that illuminate Chicago’s growth.
- Coverage of public institutions, infrastructure, and civic changes.
- Overview of transportation, industry, and education shaping the era.
- Reproductions of ante‑fire edifices and city views that document the period.
Ideal for history readers, researchers, and anyone curious about Chicago’s development during a pivotal era.