March 20 in Illinois history has seen its fair share of notable events and happenings. Here are five interesting facts:

1. The Illinois General Assembly met for the first time on March 20, 1819. The capital was then located in Kaskaskia, Illinois, and the meeting marked an important moment in the state's early history.

2. In 1837, the Illinois and Michigan Canal, a major transportation route, was authorized for construction. The canal would connect the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River and greatly improve transportation and commerce in the region.

3. On March 20, 1854, anti-slavery delegates met in Bloomington, Illinois to form the Republican Party. The party would go on to become a major political force in the country, and four years later, Abraham Lincoln would be elected president under the Republican banner.

4. The Chicago Blackhawks made history on March 20, 2008, when they became the first team in NHL history to win a game in which they trailed by five goals in the third period. The Blackhawks scored six unanswered goals to defeat the Calgary Flames 6-5 in overtime.

5. In 2012, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed into law the state's first medical marijuana program, making it the 18th state in the US to legalize cannabis for medicinal purposes. The program would go on to expand in subsequent years, and in 2020, Illinois became the 11th state to legalize recreational marijuana.