1. In 1901, the governor of Illinois, Richard Yates Jr., signed a bill that created the first juvenile court system in the United States. This court, located in Cook County, was designed to handle cases involving children who were considered to be delinquent, neglected, or dependent.

2. On February 4, 1948, the United States Supreme Court ruled in the landmark case of McCollum v. Board of Education that it was unconstitutional for public schools to use taxpayer money to fund religious instruction.

3. The Illinois Central Railroad was chartered on February 4, 1851. This railroad, which would eventually become the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad, played a major role in the transportation of goods and people throughout the state.

4. In 1977, the infamous "Blizzard of '77" hit Illinois, causing widespread damage and disruption. The storm, which lasted for several days, dumped up to three feet of snow on parts of the state and resulted in numerous deaths and injuries.

5. On February 4, 1982, Illinois native Jim Henson debuted his television show Fraggle Rock. The show, which featured anthropomorphic creatures called Fraggles living in a network of caves and tunnels, became a popular hit and ran for five seasons.