1. In 1862, the Illinois Central Railroad completed its extension from Chicago to Cairo, Illinois. This allowed for easier transportation of goods and people between the North and the South during the Civil War.

2. On August 4, 1887, William Hart, a farmer from Carlyle, Illinois, patented the first practical gasoline engine. This invention helped kickstart the modern era of transportation and manufacturing.

3. In 1930, the first All-American Soap Box Derby took place in Dayton, Ohio. One of the participants was a young boy from Decatur, Illinois named Richard N. Merwin.

4. August 4, 1964, marked the day that President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution into law. This paved the way for increased American involvement in the Vietnam War.

5. In 1985, the Illinois State Fair kicked off its annual celebration. The fair, which has been held in Springfield since 1853, features agricultural exhibits, carnival rides, and live music performances.