1. On August 31, 1918, the deadliest train wreck in Illinois history occurred near Hammond, killing 86 people and injuring over 100 others. The crash was caused by a railroad employee's mistake in switching the tracks, resulting in two trains colliding head-on.

2. In 1985, on August 31, the first episode of the popular Chicago-based sitcom "The Golden Girls" aired on NBC. The show became a cultural phenomenon, winning numerous awards and running for seven seasons.

3. On August 31, 1854, the Anti-Slavery Society of Chicago was formed, with a membership of over 400 people. The organization played a key role in the fight against slavery and advocating for the rights of African Americans.

4. In 1998, on August 31, Pope John Paul II visited Chicago as part of his journey to the United States. He led a mass at Grant Park, attended by an estimated 200,000 people.

5. On August 31, 1966, the first public performance of the rock musical "Hair" took place at the Ivanhoe Theater in Chicago. The show would go on to become a cultural touchstone of the hippie counterculture movement of the 1960s.