Today, Chicago is seen as one of the biggest and most progressive cities in the United States. There are many iconic buildings and names that have been produced by Chicago that makes the name so recognizable. Chicago is even widely known as “The Windy City” due to the city’s relentless weather. It is evident that Chicago is a well-known, modern city that many people travel to. In the 1800’s, the city was anything but modern, and was determined to stay the way it was despite the many hazards. Eventually, Chicago learned why they should have modernized their city while they had the chance. For in October of 1871, a great fire occurred that wiped out a majority of the city of Chicago. This became known as The Great Chicago Fire, which altered …show more content…
The first being a safe elevator for transportation through the many storeys of these iconic buildings. The development of safe elevators was essential because of the sheer amount of these buildings. After the fire, the city began to grow rapidly during the rebuilding causing the city to expand so much that they were forced to build up. As a result, the skyscraper became a staple in the city of Chicago. These buildings were made with metal framing and lead to faster construction. In the 1870’s the “commercial style” emerged, characterized by simplicity, and traditional materials. The Chicago School also emerged around this time and the infamous architects prospered by building skyscrapers to shape the city of Chicago. Montauk, the first skyscraper, was made with updated fireproofing materials and strategies. John Wellborn Root and Daniel H. Burnham designed the Montauk which was 9 stories and built on West Monroe. This newfound masonry tradition lasted until the late 1800s and was used to build many of the buildings that make the city of Chicago what it is today. In the past, Chicago had refused change in the architectural structure of buildings, even if for safety, because of the cost. However, the fire forced Chicago to alter the way structures were being built, resulting in a much safer and progressive