David G. Clark, known to Route 66 enthusiasts as the Windy City Road Warrior, recently produced a one-hour video about the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, right about the time of its 150th anniversary.
The fire predates Route 66 by more than 50 years, but the fire was one of the most consequential events of Chicago’s history. Its effects reverberate today.
Clark’s presentation contains a lot of analysis, fascinating facts and even a bit of whimsy.
More about the Great Chicago Fire can be found on Wikipedia and History.com.
Clark also presided over a virtual Route 66 tour during the Miles of Possibilities Conference. You can find his books, postcards and photographs in his online shop.
(Diorama image of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 by cranberries via Flickr)