Photographs of the Aftermath of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 June 19, 2009

The 33 photographs in this exhibition were made in early November 1871, 3 to 4 weeks after the great fire passed through the very area where they are on display. The unknown photographer likely traveled from a nearby city to make these pictures, as it is certain that any Chicago photographer with a studio in the business district would have lost his/her equipment and darkroom. No known photographs exist of the fire as it burned because cameras were large and photographs required long exposure, but these images bear witness to the fire's devastating effects. Dedicated to displaying Chicago-themed photographs by Chicago photographers, the City Gallery occupies the first floor of the Historic Water Tower.