1. On May 23, 1904, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign dedicated the newly built Natural History Building. The building, which is still in use today, was home to the university's natural history museum, herbarium, and classrooms for scientific studies.

2. In 1946, a massive tornado struck the town of Georgetown, Illinois on May 23, killing 33 people and causing severe damage to the area. The tornado was part of a larger outbreak of storms that affected several states across the Midwest.

3. On May 23, 1818, Illinois was admitted to the Union as the 21st state. This event marked the end of a long campaign by Illinois residents and politicians to be recognized as an independent state and gain representation in Congress.

4. The famous film director John Waters was born in Baltimore, Maryland on May 23, 1946. Although Waters is not originally from Illinois, he has strong ties to the state, having filmed several of his movies in Chicago and other parts of the state.

5. On May 23, 1962, actor and comedian Bob Hope delivered the commencement address at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Hope, who was known for his appearances in films and on television, urged the graduating class to pursue their dreams and take risks in their professional lives.