Envision Chicago ablaze. It is not the towering skyline we admire today but a city consumed by the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Now, look up. Before you stands the Pillar of Fire Sculpture.
This isn’t just any sculpture. It’s a memorial. It stands on the very spot where legend says Mrs. O’Leary’s cow kicked over a lantern. That lantern supposedly started the Great Chicago Fire. The fire raged for nearly 30 hours. It destroyed about 3.3 square miles. Over 300 people died and a third of the city’s population became homeless.
Egon Weiner created this sculpture in 1961. Weiner was a Chicago sculptor and professor at the Art Institute of Chicago. The Pillar of Fire is a 33-foot-tall abstract bronze. It depicts three flames rising. These flames intertwine to commemorate the devastating fire.
In 1971, the city designated the Pillar of Fire as a Chicago Landmark. This happened one hundred years after the tragedy. It is located in front of the Chicago Fire Academy. The academy trains the city’s firefighters and investigators. The Pillar of Fire serves as a constant reminder of the city’s resilience.
A plaque near the sculpture marks the site. It states the fire began on October 8, 1871, in the O’Leary barn at 137 DeKoven Street. Strong winds fanned the flames. Because the city was largely built of wood the blaze spread quickly. The fire finally died out in the early morning rain on Tuesday, October 10. Almost everything in its path was destroyed.
Catherine O’Leary faced public scrutiny after the fire. People blamed her for the disaster. However, in 1997, the Chicago City Council exonerated O’Leary of all guilt. A Chicago attorney and amateur historian found enough evidence to clear her name.
The Pillar of Fire stands as a symbol. It represents Chicago’s rebirth from ashes. It reminds us of the city’s ability to rebuild and innovate. It is a tribute to those who lost their lives and homes in the Great Chicago Fire. The sculpture embodies the spirit of Chicago. A spirit of rising above adversity.