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5 Fun Facts About July 24 In Illinois History
1. In 1969, the Chicago River was dyed green for the first time on July 24, as a tribute to Apollo 11's successful moon landing. The Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Union has dyed the river green every St. Patrick's Day since 1962, but this was the first time the river was...
5 Fun Facts About July 23 In Illinois History
1. John Dillinger Shot Dead (1934) - On July 23, 1934, notorious bank robber John Dillinger was shot dead by federal agents outside the Biograph Theater in Chicago. Dillinger was one of the most notorious criminals of the 1930s and his death marked the end of a violent era in...
5 Fun Facts About July 22 In Illinois History
1. In 1934, notorious gangster John Dillinger was killed by FBI agents outside of the Biograph Theater in Chicago. Dillinger had been on the run for several months and was considered one of the most dangerous criminals of his time. 2. In 1955, the first McDonald's franchise opened in Des...
5 Fun Facts About July 21 In Illinois History
1. On July 21, 1925, the Scopes Monkey Trial reached its climax in Tennessee, sparking a national debate about the teaching of evolution in schools. Though the trial did not take place in Illinois, it had a significant impact on education and free speech in the state. 2. In 1863,...
5 Fun Facts About July 20 In Illinois History
1. In 1837, the city of Chicago was incorporated as a city. Originally founded as a fur trading post in 1830, the city quickly grew into a major transportation hub for goods and people, earning the nickname "The Gateway to the West." Today, it is the third-largest city in the...
5 Fun Facts About July 19 In Illinois History
1. On July 19, 1847, the first public school in Chicago opened. The school was located at the corner of Madison and LaSalle Streets and was called the Chicago Public School. 2. The first Illinois State Fair was held on July 19, 1853, in Springfield, Illinois. The fair was such...
5 Fun Facts About July 18 In Illinois History
1. On July 18, 1837, the Illinois and Michigan Canal was officially opened for business, connecting the Illinois River to Lake Michigan and revolutionizing transportation and commerce in the state. 2. July 18, 1969, marked the first day of the Illinois State Fair, one of the largest agricultural fairs in...
5 Fun Facts About July 17 In Illinois History
1. In 1944, the infamous Port Chicago disaster occurred in California, which ultimately prompted the desegregation of the US military. However, many of the African American sailors involved in the disaster were sent to a naval facility in Illinois immediately after the incident, where they were subjected to racial discrimination...
5 Fun Facts About July 16 In Illinois History
1. The first major race riot in Chicago occurred on July 16, 1919. The riot began when a black teenager named Eugene Williams accidentally swam into a whites-only area at a beach on Lake Michigan. Whites on the beach began throwing rocks at Williams, and when he drowned, tensions escalated...
5 Fun Facts About July 15 In Illinois History
1. On July 15, 1834, the town of Chicago was officially incorporated. It had previously been a small trading post and military fort, but the incorporation allowed for more organized government and growth. 2. In 1862, the Battle of Stone's River in Tennessee ended with a Union victory. Among the...
5 Fun Facts About July 14 In Illinois History
1. Illinois became a state on December 3, 1818, but on July 14, 1877, a devastating fire broke out in the town of Chester, destroying much of the town's commercial district. 2. On July 14, 1893, the World's Columbian Exposition opened in Chicago. This massive event, which celebrated the 400th...
5 Fun Facts About July 13 In Illinois History
1. In 1831, the Illinois and Michigan Canal was authorized by the Illinois General Assembly. The canal, which was completed in 1848, connected the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River and helped to facilitate trade throughout the region. 2. On July 13, 1861, the Battle of Stone's River began in...