Don't Blame Mrs. O'Leary's Cow

The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 displaced thousands. It became a global story with newspapers famously blaming the blaze on Mrs. O’Leary’s cow (or Mrs. O’Leary herself). The story is a little more complicated though—the fire was ultimately fueled by dreams for a new city, hastily built infrastructure, and internal division between the residents. Guest: Carl Smith, author of "Chicago’s Great Fire: The Destruction and Resurrection of an Iconic American City," and Professor Emeritus of English and History at Northwestern University