Crockets from Portico

Historical marker location:

332 Maine Street, Quincy, Illinois

( Marker is at the intersection of 4th Street (Illinois Route 57) and Maine Street (U.S. 24), on the left when traveling north on 4th Street.)

The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 was one of the most devastating fires in U.S. history. The fire destroyed much of the city, including over 17,000 buildings and left more than 100,000 people homeless. The fire started in a barn owned by Patrick and Catherine O'Leary, but the cause of the fire is still debated to this day.