What history was lost? The spire survived, the artwork and antiques are undamaged. The only thing that took any kind of damage is an organ that got wet, which can be restored very easily.
Really, it's amazing. They can restore the organ and they can restore the spire.
From what I understand - and I could be wrong on this - the entire wooden interior, the stained glass windows, the spire, the organ, and the roof were all destroyed.
The only things left were a few gargoyles, the towers, the cross, the crown of thorns, and some of the walls.
Meanwhile, the Brazilian Museum was absolutely FUCKED by its fire. That shit can't be restored.
The one that burned in September? That was a tragic loss too, but it wasn't nearly as old as Notre Dame's cathedral.