1. In 1833, construction began on the Illinois and Michigan Canal, which connected the Illinois River to Lake Michigan and helped create a major transportation route that fueled economic growth in the state.

2. On August 12, 1861, Civil War hero John Logan resigned his seat in Congress to join the Union Army as a general, leading the Illinois volunteer regiment that would become known as the "Blackhawks."

3. In 1930, the first airplane passed over the city of Chicago, marking the beginning of a new era in transportation and commerce for the Windy City.

4. On August 12, 1966, the city of Cicero, Illinois exploded in riots after allegations of police brutality against a young Black civilian. The Cicero Rebellion, as it was later called, resulted in widespread destruction and several deaths.

5. On this day in 1985, the worst aviation disaster in U.S. history occurred when a Japan Airlines flight crashed in a field near O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, killing all 520 passengers and crew aboard. The tragedy prompted major changes in air traffic control procedures and safety regulations.