Today In History
5 Fun Facts About June 29 In Illinois History
1. In 1866, the Great Chicago Fire Department was established to help prevent and manage fires in the city, following the devastation of the Great Chicago Fire the previous year. 2. In 1897, the Illinois National Guard was called upon to help quell the violence and riots during the Illinois...
5 Fun Facts About June 28 In Illinois History
1. In 1834, the first Illinois State Convention was held in Vandalia, where delegates from all over the state came together to draft a new state constitution. This constitution would go on to serve Illinois until 1848, and was notable for its liberal principles and its guarantee of civil liberties....
5 Fun Facts About June 27 In Illinois History
1. On June 27, 1839, the town of Quincy, Illinois, was incorporated. Located in western Illinois along the Mississippi River, Quincy quickly became an important transportation and trade hub. Today, it is known for its historic architecture and cultural attractions. 2. On June 27, 1893, the Chicago World's Columbian Exposition...
5 Fun Facts About June 26 In Illinois History
1. In 1830, the first major wagon train to the West departed from Elm Grove, Illinois, marking the start of the westward expansion. 2. In 1884, the first skyscraper in the world, the Home Insurance Building, was completed in Chicago. 3. In 1935, the Income Tax Act was passed in...
5 Fun Facts About June 25 In Illinois History
1. In 1863, the Union army under General William S. Rosecrans occupied the city of Winchester, Virginia, during the Civil War. Many Illinois soldiers were among the troops that fought in this crucial battle, which helped secure Union control of the Shenandoah Valley. 2. On June 25, 1880, the Chicago,...
5 Fun Facts About June 24 In Illinois History
1. The first American astronaut to walk in space, Edward White, was born on June 24, 1930, in San Antonio, Texas. White spent his early years in Illinois and graduated from Western High School in Washington, Illinois, in 1948. 2. On June 24, 1779, George Rogers Clark captured the British...
5 Fun Facts About June 23 In Illinois History
On June 23, several significant events have occurred in the history of Illinois. Here are five interesting facts about this day: 1. In 1917, the East St. Louis race riots erupted. The riots, which lasted for several days, were sparked by tensions between black and white workers who were competing...
5 Fun Facts About June 22 In Illinois History
1. On June 22, 1865, Union General Thomas J. Henderson, who had served as a lieutenant colonel during the Civil War, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois. 2. In 1893, the World's Columbian Exposition, also known as the Chicago World's Fair, opened to the public. The...
5 Fun Facts About June 21 In Illinois History
1. In 1837, the city of Chicago was incorporated as a city. Prior to its incorporation, Chicago was only a small town with a population of around 4,000 people. 2. On June 21, 1864, the Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road took place during the American Civil War. Union forces were...
5 Fun Facts About June 20 In Illinois History
1. In 1837, James Fenimore Cooper gave a lecture in Jacksonville, Illinois, titled "The American Novel". Cooper was a famous American author, best known for his novel "The Last of the Mohicans". His lecture focused on the unique characteristics of American literature and the importance of creating a national identity...
5 Fun Facts About June 19 In Illinois History
1. Juneteenth becomes an Illinois state holiday: On June 19, 2021, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed a bill into law making Juneteenth a state holiday in Illinois. The holiday celebrates the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Texas were finally granted their freedom, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was...
5 Fun Facts About June 18 In Illinois History
1. In 1812, Native American forces led by Chief Black Hawk launched an attack on a group of Illinois settlers in the Battle of the Pecatonica. The settlers were ultimately able to fend off the attack, but the battle marked the beginning of the Black Hawk War. 2. On June...