1. On August 26, 1834, the town of Chicago was incorporated as a city. Before this date, Chicago was just a small town of about 4,000 people. With its new status as a city, it began to grow rapidly, eventually becoming one of the largest cities in the world.

2. In 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed, giving women the right to vote. Illinois was one of the first states to ratify the amendment, doing so on June 10, 1919. On August 26, 1920, Illinois women voted in a state election for the first time.

3. The famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright was born on August 26, 1867, in Richland Center, Wisconsin. Wright is known for his unique style of "organic architecture" and is considered one of the greatest architects of the 20th century. He designed many buildings in Illinois, including the Robie House in Chicago.

4. On August 26, 1960, Martin Luther King Jr. gave a speech at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield. The speech, which focused on civil rights and the injustices faced by African Americans, is considered one of his most important speeches. King went on to become one of the most influential civil rights leaders in American history.

5. In 2003, the Illinois tollway system began using a new electronic toll collection system called I-PASS. This system allows drivers to pay tolls without stopping and has greatly reduced congestion on Illinois tollways. Today, I-PASS is used by millions of drivers in Illinois and has become a model for other tollway systems around the country.