1. In 1837, the city of Chicago was incorporated as a city. Originally founded as a fur trading post in 1830, the city quickly grew into a major transportation hub for goods and people, earning the nickname "The Gateway to the West." Today, it is the third-largest city in the United States.

2. In 1921, legendary baseball player and Illinois native "Shoeless" Joe Jackson hit his 400th career double while playing for the Cleveland Indians. Despite being one of the game's greatest hitters, Jackson is perhaps best known for his alleged involvement in the "Black Sox" scandal of 1919, in which members of the Chicago White Sox were accused of throwing the World Series.

3. In 1969, the Apollo 11 spacecraft landed on the moon, an event that captivated the world and marked a major milestone in human history. One member of the mission, astronaut Neil Armstrong, was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio, but received his pilot's license in Illinois and completed his undergraduate degree at Purdue University in neighboring Indiana.

4. In 1972, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced new guidelines regarding the labeling of wine and other alcoholic beverages. The guidelines required that labels include information about the alcohol content of the product, as well as a warning against the dangers of excessive consumption. Today, such warnings are commonplace on all types of alcohol packaging.

5. In 2018, a massive sinkhole opened up on a Chicago street, swallowing a parked car and wreaking havoc on traffic in the area. The sinkhole was caused by a burst underground pipe, and took several days to repair. Sinkholes are a common problem in many urban areas, as aging infrastructure and underground water systems can lead to instability in the ground.