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State Street in Chicago, 1871. Later that year, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed a large part of the city, and claimed hundreds of lives. (Photo by Otto Herschan/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) ( Huty1752801 )

An Artist's conception shows people fleeing the downtown area of the city during the Chicago fire on Oct. 8, 1871 .. (AP Photo) ( CHICAGO FIRE )

9th October 1871: Crowds rushing across the Randolph-Street Bridge in a panic during the Chicago fire. (Photo by HultonArchive/Illustrated London News/Getty Images) ( 97b/03/vict/0384/61 )

State Street in Chicago, after the Great Chicago Fire, 1871. (Photo by Otto Herschan/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) ( Huty1752802 )

The ruins of the courthouse in Chicago, after the Great Chicago Fire, 1871. Seen from the Chicago Tribune Building. (Photo by Otto Herschan/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) ( Huty1752807 )

9th October 1871: A young news vendor holding a poster announcing the Chicago Fire. (Photo by Oscar Gustav Rejlander/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) ( 95c41/huch/1930/5 )

Results after Chicago Fire in 1871. (AP Photo) ( Chicago Fire )

A destroyed building is shown following the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The fire was one of the largest disasters of the 19th century, burning from Oct. 8 - Oct. 10, 1871. (AP Photo) ( Chicago Fire )

Results after Chicago Fire in 1871. (AP Photo) ( Chicago Fire )

Bigelow House at Dearborn St. between Quincy and Adams St. near S.W. corner of Dearborn and Adams in 1871. (AP Photo/G.N. Barnard) ( Chicago Fire )

Results after Chicago Fire in 1871. (AP Photo) ( Chicago Fire )

After Chicago fire, Fifth National Bank, Interior cooling off a safe in Washington Street, Chicago, Oct. 9, 1871. (AP Photo/G.N. Barnard) ( Chicago Fire )

Two boys sit on top of a partial stone wall in the wreckage of a burned-out building at Madison and Clark Streets, with the Court House in the background following the great Chicago fire of October 8 - 10, 1871, Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Hulton|Archive/Getty Images) ( T243561_03 )