1. On June 9, 1863, Union General William Rosecrans was given command of the Department of the Cumberland, which included troops in Tennessee and northern Georgia. He would go on to lead these soldiers to victory over Confederate forces in the battles of Chickamauga and Chattanooga later that year.
2. The Illinois Waterway, a system of canals and locks that connects Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River, was officially opened on June 9, 1933. This project was a major engineering feat and enabled shipping to bypass the rapids and waterfalls of the Illinois River.
3. The inaugural race of the Chicago Triathlon was held on June 9, 1983. This event has since become one of the premier triathlons in the world, drawing elite athletes from around the globe.
4. On June 9, 1998, the Chicago Bulls won their sixth NBA championship in eight years, defeating the Utah Jazz 87-86. This victory cemented the Bulls' place as one of the greatest dynasties in NBA history and marked the end of Michael Jordan's tenure with the team.
5. The Illinois House of Representatives passed a bill legalizing same-sex marriage on June 9, 2013, making Illinois the 16th state to do so. The law took effect later that year and represented a major victory for LGBTQ rights in the state.