1. On October 19, 1926, the famous magician Harry Houdini passed away in Detroit, Michigan. Houdini had performed many shows in Illinois during his career and even owned property in Chicago.

2. In 1973, the Sears Tower (now Willis Tower) opened in Chicago, becoming the tallest building in the world at the time. The building held that record for 25 years and remains one of the most iconic landmarks in Illinois.

3. October 19, 1987, marked the Great Chicago Flood, in which an accidental construction mishap caused the Chicago River to flow into a network of abandoned tunnels and basements beneath the city. The flood caused major damage and disruption, but no fatalities.

4. On this day in 1991, basketball legend Michael Jordan signed a seven-year contract with the Chicago Bulls for a then-record $25 million. Jordan led the Bulls to six NBA championships during his career and remains one of the most famous and beloved athletes in Illinois history.

5. October 19, 2007, was the day that President Barack Obama officially began his campaign for the presidency at a rally in Springfield, Illinois. Obama, who was born in Hawaii but raised in Illinois, went on to win the election and become the United States' first African American president.