1. On August 30, 1830, the first steam-powered locomotive arrived in Chicago, marking the beginning of the railway era in Illinois. The locomotive was named the Best Friend of Charleston and it made its way to Chicago via the Erie Canal.

2. In 1850, the Illinois state legislature passed the first law in the country prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages on Sundays. This law, known as the “Blue Law,” remained in effect until 1989.

3. August 30, 1907, is the birthdate of Fred MacMurray, a famed actor from Kankakee, Illinois. MacMurray starred in over 100 films and TV shows throughout his career, including the classic Disney film “The Absent-Minded Professor.”

4. On August 30, 1968, Illinois native Mayor Richard J. Daley ordered law enforcement officials to quell the protests that erupted during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The crackdown, which involved the use of tear gas and physical force, became known as the “Battle of Michigan Avenue.”

5. The Illinois State Fair, one of the largest state fairs in the country, typically opens on or around August 30 each year. The fair offers a variety of attractions, including carnival rides, live music, livestock exhibitions, and agricultural displays.