Great Chicago Fire

Historical eventOctober 81871

Great Chicago Fire

The Great Chicago Fire (pictured), began and proceeded to destroy much of the city's central business district, killing 300 people and leaving 90,000 others homeless.

Everything on October 8Original source

In context

When
Sunday, October 8 1871155 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
19th century · 1870s
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

Russia, Greece and some other countries used the Julian calendar into the early 20th century, so local records may show a date up to 13 days earlier.

At a glance

Dates: From 1871.

What happened

The Great Chicago Fire (pictured), began and proceeded to destroy much of the city's central business district, killing 300 people and leaving 90,000 others homeless.

October 8 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 1871Great Chicago Fire
  2. 2001Scandinavian Airlines
  3. 2001Milan Linate Airport
  4. 2001United States Department of Homeland Security
  5. 20052005 Kashmir earthquake
  6. 2014Thomas Eric Duncan
  7. 2016Hurricane Matthew
  8. 2016Saudi-led intervention in the Yemeni civil war
  9. 2019Extinction Rebellion
  10. 20192019 Baku protests
  11. 2020Second Nagorno-Karabakh War

Also in 1871

  • January 18German EmpireThe German Empire was formed by the unification of previously independent German states, under the rule of Kaiser Wilhelm I.
  • December 26Thespis (opera)Thespis, the first comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan, premiered at the Gaiety Theatre in London.
  • October 26Edward James RoyeLiberian president Edward James Roye was overthrown in modern Africa's first coup d'état.
  • December 24AidaAida, one of Giuseppe Verdi's most popular operas, made its debut in Cairo, Egypt.
  • November 10Henry Morton StanleyJournalist and explorer Henry Morton Stanley (pictured) located missing missionary and explorer David Livingstone near Lake Tanganyika in…
  • March 22William Woods HoldenWilliam Woods Holden, Governor of North Carolina, became the first U.S. state governor to be removed from office through impeachment.
  • July 30Staten Island FerryThe boiler of the Staten Island Ferry Westfield II exploded at South Ferry in New York City, killing at least 45 people.
  • April 2Creatures of ImpulseCreatures of Impulse, by W. S. Gilbert (pictured), premiered at the Court Theatre in London.

Everything we record for 1871 →

Sources

Cite this page

“Great Chicago Fire”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/great-chicago-fire-1871-october-8, accessed October 28, 2026.

Cite the underlying source as well — the source links above go to the record this entry is adapted from.

Questions about this entry

When did Great Chicago Fire happen?

October 8 1871 — 155 years ago, on a Sunday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints.

How do I cite this page?

Use the ready-made citation near the sources at the bottom of the page, and follow the source link to cite the underlying record as well.

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