Veiled in Smoke Travel Guide: Visit the Chicago of 1871’s Great Fire

After the Great Fire of 1871 destroyed Chicago’s business district and rendered 100,000 people homeless, the city lost no time in rebuilding. Within two years, the downtown area was completely reconstructed, and better than ever. But if you visit Chicago today, you’ll still be able to find glimpses of the Chicago my characters in Veiled in Smoke knew well.

1. The Chicago Fire Academy

We know for sure the site where the Great Fire began: Catherine O’Leary’s barn. But there was never any proof that she or her cow was to blame for kicking over a lantern.

According to the official report of an investigation conducted in 1871:

“There is no proof that any person had been in the barn after nightfall that evening. Whether it originated from a spark blown from a chimney on that windy night, or was set on fire by human agency, we are unable to determine. Mr. O'Leary and all his family prove to have been in bed and asleep at the time.” 

In any case, the site of the blaze’s first sparks is now at the Chicago Fire Academy, at the corner of DeKoven and Jefferson. Visitors are allowed inside to see the spot, and to see antique fire engines as well.

2. Courthouse finial, Lincoln Park

My characters, the Townsend family, lived across from Courthouse Square. The night of the fire, the bell in the Courthouse Cupola rang for five hours before it collapsed. Today, an urn-shaped finial from the courthouse’s roof can be seen in front of Lincoln Park Zoo.

Thousands of Chicagoans fled north from the flames in October 8-9, 1871, many of them finally finding refuge in Lincoln Park.

3. St. James Cathedral

The Great Fire gutted St. James Cathedral at the corner of Wabash and Huron. All that was left were the stone walls, the bell tower, and a Civil War memorial in the narthex. The top of bell tower remains charred from those flames of 1871 as a reminder of what the church survived.

4. Fire relics at the Chicago History Museum

In Veiled in Smoke, two Italian boys sell fire relics such as marbles molded together, pieces of charred statues or sculptures, and a mound of washers fused into one form. These relics, and others like them, can be seen today at the Chicago History Museum.

5. Water tower

The water tower survived the Great Fire and is open to the public to look around inside. You won’t find any water there—the tower actually holds a huge pump that brings water in from Lake Michigan. After the Great Fire, the water tower was one of the few remaining landmarks in the area which helped orient people to where they were.

6. Prairie Avenue Historic District

 Historic Prairie Avenue was far south enough that it was not in danger of being burned. One of my characters in Veiled in Smoke lived here, and opened his home as a refuge for those displaced by the fire. See the historic district in the 1800 and 1900 blocks of South Prairie Ave to see the kinds of homes that would have been there at the time.

7. Driehaus Museum

The Driehaus Museum at 40 East Erie Street inspired the interior details of the fictional home I placed on Prairie Avenue in the novel. If you visit the museum today, you’ll see that the library, dining room, and reception rooms look familiar.

I sincerely hope that Veiled in Smoke brings 1871 Chicago alive for you. But I also hope you can get to Chicago and see some of these sites yourself. If you’d like a personal tour guide for your family or group, I will recommend mine! Kevin Doerksen owns Wild Onion Walks, and guided me through Chicago as part of my two separate research trips I took. He’s a walking encyclopedia of Chicago history!  Not only did he prove an excellent resource, he also read my book to make sure I got the history right—and then he even endorsed it.

Whether through my book or in person or both, I hope you experience Chicago soon!

About Veiled in Smoke

Meg and Sylvie Townsend manage the family bookshop and care for their father, Stephen, a veteran still suffering in mind and spirit from his time as a POW during the Civil War. But when the Great Fire sweeps through Chicago's business district, they lose much more than just their store.

The sisters become separated from their father, and after Meg burns her hands in an attempt to save a family heirloom, they make a harrowing escape from the flames with the help of Chicago Tribune reporter Nate Pierce. Once the smoke clears away, they reunite with Stephen, only to learn soon after that their family friend not only died during the fire--he was murdered. Even more shocking, Stephen is charged with the crime and committed to the Cook County Insane Asylum.

Though homeless, injured, and suddenly unemployed, Meg must not only gather the pieces of her shattered life, but prove her father's innocence before the asylum truly drives him mad.

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