1. On August 5, 1861, the 11th Illinois Infantry Regiment was mustered into service for the Union during the Civil War. The regiment played a significant role in battles including Vicksburg, Chattanooga, and Atlanta.

2. In 1884, the cornerstone for the Illinois State Capitol building in Springfield was laid on August 5. The building features a stunning dome made of zinc and was completed in 1888.

3. On August 5, 1914, the first electric traffic signal in the United States was installed in Cleveland, Ohio. The inventor, James Hoge, was a resident of Illinois and had previously sold similar signals to the city of Chicago.

4. The Illinois State Fair, one of the largest and oldest state fairs in the country, typically begins in mid-August. On August 5, 1928, future president Ronald Reagan performed as a lifeguard in a diving exhibition at the fair's swimming pool.

5. In 1992, the Chicago Cubs retired the number 23 in honor of Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg. Sandberg was a beloved second baseman for the Cubs and spent nearly his entire career with the team, earning 10 All-Star selections and nine Gold Gloves.