1. In 1843, the first issue of the "Sangamo Journal" was published in Springfield, Illinois. This newspaper was founded by Abraham Lincoln and his friend William Berry, and it was instrumental in spreading Lincoln's political ideas and preparing him for his presidential campaigns.

2. In 1871, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign was founded as a land-grant institution. Today, it is one of the top public universities in the United States and boasts several Nobel laureates among its alumni and faculty.

3. In 1900, the world's first-ever professional basketball game was played in Trenton, New Jersey between the Trenton YMCA and a team of five men from Chicago's West Side. Although the Chicagoans lost the game 15-1, their efforts helped to establish basketball as a viable professional sport.

4. In 1965, civil rights activists marched from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in a historic demonstration for voting rights. Among those who participated were several Illinois residents, including Jesse Jackson and Fannie Lou Hamer.

5. In 1984, the United States Hockey Hall of Fame was established in Eveleth, Minnesota. Many Illinois-born players have been inducted into the hall of fame over the years, including Chris Chelios, Tony Esposito, and Patrick Kane.