The Prairie School was also an attempt at developing an indigenous North American style of architecture that did not share design elements and aesthetic vocabulary with earlier styles of European classical architecture . Many talented and ambitious young architects had been attracted by building opportunities stemming from the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 . The World 's Columbian Exposition ( Chicago World 's Fair ) of 1893 was supposed to be a heralding of the city of Chicago 's rebirth . But many of the young Midwestern architects of what would become the Prairie School were offended by the Greek and Roman classicism of nearly every building erected for the fair . In reaction , they sought to create new work in and around Chicago that would display a uniquely modern and authentically American style , which came to be called Prairie
Great Chicago Fire
Great Chicago Fire
Prairie School