1. Illinois became a state on December 3, 1818, but it wasn't until nearly four decades later, on February 27, 1854, that the first state capitol building was dedicated in Springfield. The impressive building served as the home of Illinois' government for 62 years, until the current capitol building was constructed in 1924.

2. On February 27, 1933, the world watched in wonder as the Chicago World's Fair announced exciting plans for the Century of Progress. The fair, which ran from 1933 to 1934, boasted state-of-the-art technology, thrilling rides, and unforgettable exhibits that drew millions of visitors from around the globe.

3. Illinois native Harold Ramis, who passed away in 2014, was born on February 27, 1944. Ramis was a hugely influential comedian, writer, and director, who was perhaps best-known for his work on classic comedies like Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day, and Caddyshack.

4. On February 27, 1997, a jury in McHenry County found a 13-year-old boy guilty of murdering his father with a shotgun. The verdict was controversial at the time, as many questioned whether the boy was capable of such a heinous act.

5. In 2002, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign announced that it had successfully cloned a calf using a technique called somatic cell nuclear transfer. The calf, named Second Chance, was born on February 27, 2002, and represented a major breakthrough in animal cloning technology.