Amazing Images Of Great Chicago Fire, Courtesy Of New York

By John Dodge

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Within the newly opened digital archives of the New York Public Library, are hundreds of images taken after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

Among them is a stereoscopic view, titled "Birdseye View From Top Of Waterworks, North Side."

It is perhaps a view from the iconic Michigan Avenue Water Tower, which was one of the few structures spared by the blaze.

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, The New York Public Library. "Birdseye view from top of waterworks, North side."

The images are part of a collection of 180,000 historical items recently added to the public domain by the New York Public Library.

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, The New York Public Library. "Chicago fire views: Field, Leiter & Co.'s store." The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1871.

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, The New York Public Library. "Merchants Insurance Building." The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1871.

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, The New York Public Library. "Col[onel] Wood's Museum." The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1871.

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, The New York Public Library. "Post Office." The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1871.

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, The New York Public Library. "From Michigan Avenue Hotel."

Click here to view more of the items contained in the collection.