In 1871 , the Great Chicago Fire destroyed an area about long and wide , a large section of the city at the time . Much of the city , including railroads and stockyards , survived intact , and from the ruins of the previous wooden structures arose more modern constructions of steel and stone . These set a precedent for worldwide construction . During its rebuilding period , Chicago constructed the world 's first skyscraper in 1885 , using steel-skeleton construction
Great Chicago Fire
Great Chicago Fire
Chicago