Burling had many architectural works during these early years . Unfortunately for Burling ’s architectural legacy , nearly all of his early work was consumed by the Great Fire in 1871 . The fire practically wiped Chicago ’s slate clean . Despite his work getting destroyed , his Tribune Building — the first supposedly fireproof building in the city — saw its iron beams melt into liquid rivers in the blasting heat , and its stone baked and crumbled to dust . Still , a stone-walled survivor of Burling ’s early work stands next to the Driehaus Museum today : St. James Cathedral , which he built in 1857 and rebuilt in 1875
Great Fire in 1871
Great Chicago Fire
Edward J. Burling