Today In History
5 Fun Facts About June 3 In Illinois History
1. On June 3, 1832, the first land office in Chicago opened. It was created to serve as the center for the growing population and for those looking to purchase land in the expanding city. 2. The first Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) training center in the United States was...
5 Fun Facts About June 2 In Illinois History
1. On June 2, 1837, the Illinois State Legislature approved the creation of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, a landmark transportation project that connected Lake Michigan to the Illinois River and helped spur economic growth throughout the state. 2. June 2, 1966, saw the tragic tornado outbreak that swept across...
5 Fun Facts About June 1 In Illinois History
1. In 1818, Illinois officially became the 21st state in the United States of America. The state was primarily inhabited by Native American tribes such as the Illinois, Kickapoo, Sauk, and Fox, prior to European colonization in the 17th century. 2. In 1954, the Illinois Senate accepted the federal government's...
5 Fun Facts About May 31 In Illinois History
1) In 1851, the Illinois State Capitol building was completed in Springfield after three years of construction. The building, designed by architect John F. Rague, was built using locally sourced materials such as brick and limestone. 2) In 1907, the first ever automobile race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was...
5 Fun Facts About May 30 In Illinois History
1. Abraham Lincoln's Birthday: May 30th is the birthday of former US President Abraham Lincoln who was born in Hodgenville, Kentucky in 1809. Although he was not born in Illinois, he spent much of his adult life in the state and is well-known for his work as a lawyer and...
5 Fun Facts About May 29 In Illinois History
1. The first gas-powered automobile race in the United States was held on May 29, 1895, in Chicago. The race was organized by the Chicago Times-Herald newspaper and covered a distance of 54 miles. 2. May 29, 1919, marked the first transatlantic flight in which a U.S. Navy seaplane flew...
5 Fun Facts About May 28 In Illinois History
1. In 1830, the Indian Removal Act was signed into law by President Andrew Jackson. This act allowed for the forced relocation of Native American tribes, including the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, Seminole, and Cherokee, from their ancestral lands in the Southeast to areas west of the Mississippi River, including present-day...
5 Fun Facts About May 27 In Illinois History
1. On May 27, 1832, the Black Hawk War broke out in Illinois. The conflict was between the United States and several Native American tribes, led by Chief Black Hawk of the Sauk tribe. The war lasted for several months and resulted in the removal of Native Americans from Illinois....
5 Fun Facts About May 26 In Illinois History
Here are 5 interesting facts about May 26 in Illinois history: 1. In 1906, the Wright brothers performed their first public flight in Illinois at the Grant Park in Chicago. They flew a Wright Flyer for nine minutes over the city, which was witnessed by thousands of spectators. 2. In...
5 Fun Facts About May 25 In Illinois History
1. In 1935, the Supreme Court of Illinois upheld the validity of the state's first gasoline tax law, which was passed to fund the construction of highways and bridges. The tax was set at one cent per gallon of gasoline sold in the state. 2. May 25, 1961 marks the...
5 Fun Facts About May 24 In Illinois History
1. 1830 - Lincoln and Berry Duel: On May 24, 1830, Abraham Lincoln, who was still a young man at the time, was involved in his first recorded duel at Bloody Island in St. Louis with James Shields. They were dueling over letters written about Shields that were published in...
5 Fun Facts About May 23 In Illinois History
1. On May 23, 1904, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign dedicated the newly built Natural History Building. The building, which is still in use today, was home to the university's natural history museum, herbarium, and classrooms for scientific studies. 2. In 1946, a massive tornado struck the town of...