Leadership Lessons from the Great Chicago Fire of 1871
Beginning on October 8, 1871, the Great Chicago Fire burned through the city for three days. It left an estimated 300 people dead, with more than 17,000 structures destroyed and damages estimated at $200 million. After the flames subsided, recovery efforts exposed deep social and economic inequities as more than 100,000 people became homeless, and society placed blame upon the Irish immigrant O’Leary family.
Now 150 years later, that monumental event in our city’s history offers important leadership lessons we can apply today to closing the gaps of inequity and rebuilding from the devastation of the pandemic.
Join Leadership Greater Chicago CEO Maria Wynne in conversation with John Russick, Senior Vice President of the Chicago History Museum and Daniel Burnham Fellow, as they take us on a historical tour of the Great Chicago Fire through stories, insights from historians and documented perspectives from survivors. The information shared will spark ideas and action to address the challenges of inequity and rebuilding we face today.
The program will include a sneak peek of the City on Fire: Chicago 1871 exhibit (to open October 8), an interactive exploration of an historic 40-foot-wide oil painting that captures a 360-degree view of the Fire and the new Jaffee History Trail on the museum grounds, featuring the single largest relic of the Fire which has just been put back on public display for the first time in nearly a half century. The program will conclude with audience Q&A.
REGISTRATION | ACCESSIBILITY
To register for this FREE virtual event, click the green button above.
If you need a disability-related accommodation to fully participate in this program, please include that information in your registration.
Guests are welcome. This program will be captioned.
Questions? Contact us at info@lgcchicago.org
