In the summer of 1871 , the opera house underwent alterations after $ 80,000 had been raised to lavishly redecorate the venue . An advertisement stated that the Crosby Opera House was to re-open on October 9 , 1871 with a performance by Theodore Thomas . Theodore Thomas was on tour in early October 1971 and had planned to head to the opera house for a two-week series event of orchestral concerts for the reopening . However , two years of planning were wasted when a fire tore through the city on the night before the re-opening . By the evening of the next day , the Great Chicago Fire had destroyed over of the city , including Crosby 's Opera House . When the fire bell alarmed on October 8th , many Chicagoans paid no attention since the summer had been particularly dry and there had already been several fires . A strong wind blew through the city and exhausted the firefighters ' efforts . By Tuesday morning the fire had ended and nearly 300 people died , 100,000 were homeless , and Chicago 's business district was in ruins . Chief usher James S. Osgood and Crosby went back to the opera house to save some of the art gallery . They took large pictures out of the frames and lowered them by rope out of the windows , eventually taking them to Garrisons House at 226 South Wabash Street . Thomas and his orchestra played a benefit concert at their next stop in St. Louis in honor of the Chicago area . It was never rebuilt , and there was no permanent venue for opera in the city until the Chicago Opera House opened in 1885
Great Chicago Fire
Great Chicago Fire
Crosby's Opera House