1. On March 21, 1935, the first flood control district was created in Illinois. The Pike County Soil and Water Conservation District was established as part of the Soil Conservation Act, with the aim of addressing soil erosion and water quality issues in the region.

2. March 21, 1867, saw the birth of Frank Buckles, the last surviving American veteran of World War I. Buckles, who grew up in Missouri but later moved to Illinois, passed away in 2011 at the age of 110.

3. On March 21, 1984, Chicago's historic Navy Pier reopened to the public after undergoing extensive renovations. Originally built in 1916, the pier had fallen into disrepair over the years, but was transformed into a popular tourist destination thanks to the $150 million renovation project.

4. Illinois' first successful transplant of a human heart took place on March 21, 1983, at the University of Illinois Hospital in Chicago. The recipient, a 25-year-old father of two, went on to live for another 14 years following the surgery.

5. March 21, 2018, marked the beginning of a days-long protest outside the Thompson Center in downtown Chicago. Thousands of public school teachers and their supporters gathered to demand better pay and working conditions, as well as increased funding for public education. The strike ended on March 23, when a deal was reached between the Chicago Teachers Union and the city government.