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The original Palmer House was erected in 1851 at the corner of State and Quincy Streets,
but the one that burned down in the Great Chicago Fire was located on the same site as the
current (fourth) building, the southeast corner of State and Monroe. The second Palmer
House opened in March of 1871, and its destruction provides one of the more interesting
incidents of the fire. In order to protect his plans and records, architect J.M. Van Osdel
buried them in the basement in a pit covered with sand and clay. Their survival supposedly
led the way to the use of clay tile in fireproofing.
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Among the Ruins 