1. In 1908, the first Ford Model T was sold in Chicago. The car quickly became popular and revolutionized travel in the United States.

2. On October 14, 1947, Chuck Yeager became the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound. Yeager, born in Myra, West Virginia, flew the Bell X-1 rocket plane at Mach 1.06 over the Mojave Desert in California.

3. In 1962, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign became the first university in the world to create a computer-based electronic music system. Developed by John Chowning, the system paved the way for modern electronic music.

4. On October 14, 1998, the Sears Tower in Chicago was officially renamed the Willis Tower. The tower, which was completed in 1973, held the title of tallest building in the world for 25 years.

5. In 2013, the Chicago Cubs announced the hiring of new manager Rick Renteria. Renteria, who had previously coached for the San Diego Padres, took over a struggling Cubs team and helped guide the franchise through a rebuilding period.