The Cow That Didn't Start the Great Chicago Fire

On October 8, 1871, the Great Chicago Fire erupted, a massive blaze that would go down in history as one of the most destructive events in American history. For decades, the blame was placed squarely on a very unlikely suspect: Mrs. O'Leary's cow. According to the popular legend, the cow kicked over a lantern in a barn on DeKoven Street, sparking the inferno. However, this story is actually a bit of a historical 'oopsie'! It turns out the tale was largely fabricated by a journalist named Michael Ahern, who later admitted he made the whole thing up to make the story more colorful. While the fire was tragically real, the poor cow was completely innocent of any arson! So, on this October 8, let's celebrate the exoneration of history's most unfairly accused bovine.