Chronological Review from 1673 to 1997

a 1673: Discovery
The first Europeans to view the land on which the city of Chicago was to stand were Father Jacques Marquette, a French born missionary, and Louis Joliet, a Canadian explorer and mapmaker. They traversed the Chicago region in the fall of 1673.

b 1779: Jean Baptiste Point du Sable
The American settler Jean Baptiste Point du Sable built the first permanent settlement – the basement of the town was incorporated in 1779 at the mouth of the River.

c 1833: Incorporated as a Town – Origin of Name
The town of Chicago was incorporated on August 12, 1833, with a population of 350. The town name probably derives from the Indians. There are many theories to explain the origin of the name.

d 1833-35: Limits of Town Extended
On November 6, 1833, the limits of the town were extended to ³/₈ of a square mile. In 1835, they were extended again to occupy 2²/₅ square miles.

e 1840: Free Schools established
In 1837, when Chicago became a city, the members of the common council were made commissioners of schools. The schools were placed on a permanent and self-supporting basis by a special act of the legislature in 1839. In November, 1840, free public schools were permanently established and a Board of Inspectors was organized. An act of February 25, 1845, defined the rate of school tax and a charter of 1851 gave the council the power to establish and maintain schools and to manage school finance.

f 1848: Galena & Chicago Union Railroad
As the first Chicago railroad, the Galena & Chicago Union was chartered on January 16, 1836. It connected Chicago to Galena. The first train arrived in Chicago on October 10, 1848, and in 1850, everything was completed. This railroad was important for the town’s development – its population tripled. Over the years Chicago became the largest railroad center in the world.

g 1848: Chicago City Hall
The Market Building was used as a city hall until 1853. That year, a new city hall was completed but the 1871 Great Fire would destroy it. The seal of Chicago can be seen in the present city hall.

h Chicago Police Department

– Early days: reliance on soldiers

– 1833: election of the first board to protect the people. First jail incorporated.

– 1850: 9 men form police force

– 1855: pass of ordinances in order to create a police department consisting of 90 men. City divided into 3 police precincts.

– 1885: women employed

– 1905: fingerprinting and the Murder Bureau are introduced

– 1913: all police force is renamed “policemen” to create an equal police hierarchy

– 1914: inauguration of women to replace policemen at school crossings so that men were free for other duties

– 1956: Public relations work began, informing people about the activities of the police

– today: 13,000 police officers in Chicago. Women fully integrated.

i 1860: First National Political Convention – Abraham Lincoln nominated
When, in 1860, it was decided to hold the Republican National Convention in Chicago (the first national political convention to meet in Chicago), a special building called the "Wigwam" was erected. On May 18, the third day of the convention, nominations were presented. Abraham Lincoln obtained 231 ¹/₂ votes, with 233 necessary for nomination. At this point the Ohio delegation changed its four votes from Salmon P. Chase of Ohio to Lincoln and Abraham Lincoln was nominated.

j 1861-65: The Civil War
The Civil War started on April 12, 1861, when Fort Sumter was fired on. The war lasted until 1865. Union military successes in the winter of 1865. On April 15, 1865 Abraham Lincoln died by assassination.

k 1865: Chicago Union Stock Yard Completed
In order to rationalize beef production the Chicago stock yards were united under the name “Union Stock Yard” which opened Christmas Day, 1865. The Stock Yard grew to see its peak year in 1924 but a gradual decline caused by decentralization brought the end of the Union Stock Yard on July 30, 1971.

l 1867: The First Tunnel Under The Lake
Early Chicagoans were fed with water by private water carts. From 1840 on drinking water was delivered from the Lake being stored in three reservoirs. The first water tunnel under the Lake was designed by Ellis S. Chesbrough and was completed in 1867. It was in use until 1953. A pumping station was erected in 1869. This marked the beginning of today’s water works, tunnels, pumping stations and filtration.

m 1869: Chicago Water Tower
Chicago Water Tower was completed in 1869 and was the only survivor of the 1871 fire. It was built by William W. Boyington and chosen to be the first American water landmark in 1969.

n 1869: First Traffic Tunnel under the River
As Chicago grew, traffic on the River became heavy and slow. The construction of bridges would cause traffic jams, so the first traffic tunnel under the River was completed in 1869. It was 1605 ft long and cost $17,000.

o 1871: The Great Fire
The real cause of the fire is unknown but a version generally accepted is that Mrs. O’Leary’s coco knocked over an oil lamp which set up the fire. Blaze began about 9 p.m. on October 8, 1871. The fire spread quickly and after fire had jumped over the river the Business District was on fire. A little help was given to the fire brigade by rainfall. Results: 300 people lost their lives, 9000 were injured; property loss: $ 200 million. The city was quickly rebuilt and by 1875 already there was no more evidence of the fire.

p 1873: Chicago Public Library Opened
All of Chicago’s libraries had been burned in 1871. Over 8,000 books were donated to the people of Chicago so that the City Council had the idea of creating a public library. It opened in 1873 and today houses the Chicago Culture Center.

q 1885: First Skyscraper
The first skyscraper was the Home Insurance Building, completed in 1885. It was built by Major William Le Baron Jenney who invented the steel skeleton. This development revolutionized urban life as with higher buildings more people could live and work in limited areas.

r 1893: World’s Columbian Exposition
The World’s Columbian Exposition had as aim to commemorate the 400^th anniversary of the discovery of America, and also to bring attention to the enterprise and ingenuity of Chicagoans. The exposition opened on May 1, 1893 and ran for six months. It attracted almost half of the people then living in the United States.

s  1903: Iroquois Theater Fire
On December 30, 1903, Chicago experienced one of its worst disasters – the Iroquois Theater, supposed to be fireproof, caught fire and within minutes the flames were out of control. At least 600 people lost their lives.

t 1915: Eastland Disaster
On the morning of July 24, 1915, the lake passenger steamer “Eastland” cast off the Chicago River with 2572 people aboard. She rolled over on her side and settled on the mud of the river bottom. The accident’s causes aren’t really clear. 844 people lost their lives; that is why it’s the worst single disaster of Chicago.

u 1927: Municipal Airport of Chicago (Midway) opened
Chicago’s first airport was completed in 1927. In order to honor the people who had fought at the battle of Midway during World War II, it was renamed Chicago Midway Airport on December 12, 1949. From 19445 to 1958, it was the world’s busiest airport. It is also known as the O’Hare Airport.

v 1942 Dec 2: First Controlled Atomic Reaction
On December 2, 1942, the first controlled atomic reaction was made possible by the Italian physicist Enrico Fermi. He had been invited to the Metallurgical Laboratory to realize experiments from February of that year on. Ferrin died in 1954 and the Fermi Institute built after World War II commemorates him.

w 1943: Chicago’s First Subway Opened
Work on the city’s first subway began on December 17, 1938. Construction was very difficult but it was accomplished without any serious complications. The Subway was opened on October 17, 1943.

x 1955: Mayor Richard J. Daley Elected
Richard J. Daley was first elected mayor of Chicago in April, 1955. He was reelected in 1959, 1963, 1967 and 1971. He was elected for a sixth four-year term in 1975. He died in office on December 20, 1976.

y 1967 Jan 16: McCormick Place Fire
McCormick Place, the world’s largest exposition hall, officially opened on 18, 1960. On January 16, 1967, with the National Housewares Manufacturers’ Association exhibition about to open, the great building was destroyed by fire. The new McCormick Place was opened on January 3, 1971.

z 1973: Sears Tower
In 1973, the Sears Tower became the world’s tallest building until February 3, 1996, when it was the tallest building of North America. In 1997, it regained the title because it has the highest roof and the highest occupied floor (110 stories).

A 1985: State of Illinois Center Opens
Work for the State of Illinois Center was completed in May, 1985. It cost $ 173 million and is only 17 stories tall. It has been renamed “James R. Thompson Center”.