It began with a spark — and by dawn, an entire city was in flames. The Great Chicago Fire tore through wood-framed buildings and windy streets, reducing a booming metropolis to rubble. Families fled with nothing but the clothes on their backs as firestorms leapt across the river. By the time the ashes cooled, 300 were dead and 100,000 were homeless. Some blamed Mrs. O’Leary’s cow, others called it fate — but one thing was certain: Chicago would rise again, stronger than before. #onthisday #histo