Today In History
5 Fun Facts About June 17 In Illinois History
1. In 1947, the Illinois state legislature passed the Illinois Public Aid Code, which created a comprehensive system of public assistance for low-income families and individuals. This legislation set the foundation for the modern Illinois Department of Human Services. 2. On June 17, 1969, the Chicago Cubs played their first...
5 Fun Facts About June 16 In Illinois History
1. In 1922, the Chicago Tribune launched its first crossword puzzle. This newspaper, founded in 1847, remains a major daily paper in the city, with a circulation of over 400,000. 2. On June 16, 1949, the first nuclear reactor in the world to produce electricity for a power grid went...
5 Fun Facts About June 15 In Illinois History
1. In 1837, the town of Chicago was incorporated as a city. The city's population was just over 4,000 at the time. 2. In 1865, the state of Illinois became the first state to ratify the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which formally abolished slavery in the country....
5 Fun Facts About June 14 In Illinois History
1. In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was nominated as the Republican candidate for President of the United States at the Illinois Republican Convention held in Decatur. 2. In 1961, the Illinois Central Railroad's last passenger train, The City of New Orleans, departed from Chicago's Central Station for its final journey to...
5 Fun Facts About June 13 In Illinois History
June 13 has been a significant day in Illinois history, with various events occurring that have had an impact on the state's development and culture. Here are 5 interesting facts about June 13 in Illinois history: 1. In 1927, the "Mississippi Flood of 1927" reached its peak, affecting 27,000 square...
5 Fun Facts About June 12 In Illinois History
1. Illinois celebrates Juneteenth as a state holiday: On June 12, 2021, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed legislation designating Juneteenth as an official state holiday. Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when Union soldiers arrived in Texas to announce the end of the Civil War and slavery. 2. The Cubs...
5 Fun Facts About June 11 In Illinois History
1. In 1865, the first Illinois State Fair was held in Springfield. The fair is still held annually, showcasing agriculture, entertainment and cultural activities for the people of Illinois. 2. In 1913, the Illinois State House passed the Graham-Tewksbury Child Labor Law, which prohibited children under the age of 14...
5 Fun Facts About June 9 In Illinois History
1. On June 9, 1863, Union General William Rosecrans was given command of the Department of the Cumberland, which included troops in Tennessee and northern Georgia. He would go on to lead these soldiers to victory over Confederate forces in the battles of Chickamauga and Chattanooga later that year. 2....
5 Fun Facts About June 7 In Illinois History
1. On June 7, 1867, construction began on the Illinois State Capitol building in Springfield. The building was completed in 1888 and is still in use today as the seat of government for the state of Illinois. 2. The famous inventor and founder of the Kellogg Company, John Harvey Kellogg,...
5 Fun Facts About June 6 In Illinois History
1. The first case of the 1918 influenza epidemic was reported in Illinois on June 6, 1918. This pandemic would go on to kill millions worldwide, including thousands in Illinois. 2. On June 6, 1861, Illinois became the first state to call for volunteers to fight in the Civil War....
5 Fun Facts About June 5 In Illinois History
1. On June 5, 1963, the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) officially opened its doors to students for the first time. The university was created through the consolidation of two existing campuses and grew rapidly over the following decades to become one of the largest universities in the state....
5 Fun Facts About June 4 In Illinois History
1. The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 started on the evening of October 8, but it continued to burn until June 4, 1872. Despite eight months of efforts to extinguish the fire, it destroyed over 17,000 buildings and left over 100,000 people homeless. 2. On June 4, 1860, Abraham Lincoln...