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5 Fun Facts About May 22 In Illinois History
1. On May 22, 1856, a massive tornado tore through the city of Quincy, Illinois, causing widespread devastation and killing several people. The tornado remains one of the deadliest in Illinois history. 2. In 1904, the World's Fair, also known as the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, opened in St. Louis, Missouri....
5 Fun Facts About May 21 In Illinois History
1. On May 21, 1900, the Illinois state legislature passed the Sullivan Law, which required premarital examinations for couples seeking marriage licenses as a way to prevent the spread of syphilis. This was one of the earliest laws of its kind in the United States. 2. The first transcontinental airmail...
5 Fun Facts About May 20 In Illinois History
1. In 1927, Charles Lindbergh made an emergency landing in a cornfield near Paris, Illinois, during a promotional tour for the then newly-built Spirit of St. Louis airplane. 2. On May 20, 1936, the infamous gangster Al Capone was released from the federal penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia, after serving seven...
5 Fun Facts About May 19 In Illinois History
1. In 1910, the University of Illinois dedicated the first physically accessible dormitory in the country for students with disabilities. At the time, the dormitory had a state-of-the-art design with accommodations for students with mobility impairments. 2. On May 19, 1964, the Illinois State Senate passed the Civil Rights Act,...
5 Fun Facts About May 18 In Illinois History
1. On May 18, 1859, the Illinois and Michigan Canal was completed after 12 years of construction. The canal connected the Chicago River to the Illinois River, providing a vital trade route for goods and resources to and from the Midwest to the Gulf of Mexico. 2. In 1927, Charles...
5 Fun Facts About May 17 In Illinois History
1. Illinois Statehood Day: May 17 marks the anniversary of Illinois becoming the 21st state in the Union. On this day in 1818, Congress passed an act granting statehood to Illinois. 2. Birth of the skyscraper: On May 17, 1884, the world's first skyscraper was completed in Chicago. The Home...
5 Fun Facts About May 16 In Illinois History
1. In 1920, Illinois became the first state to ratify the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. This was a significant victory for the women's suffrage movement and paved the way for nationwide reform. 2. On May 16, 1946, the Great Central United States earthquake rattled the...
5 Fun Facts About May 15 In Illinois History
1. The Illinois State Capitol was dedicated on May 15, 1888. Designed by architects Cochrane and Garnsey, the Capitol building is an iconic landmark in Springfield, Illinois, and houses the offices of the governor, lieutenant governor, and other state officials. 2. On May 15, 1918, the deadliest train wreck in...
5 Fun Facts About May 14 In Illinois History
1. The first McDonald's restaurant in Illinois was opened on May 14, 1955, in Des Plaines. This location was later demolished in 1984 and replaced with a museum commemorating the fast food chain's history. 2. On May 14, 1804, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark departed from Camp Dubois, near present-day...
5 Fun Facts About May 13 In Illinois History
1. In 1861, the Illinois state legislature passed a resolution recognizing the existence of a state of war between the United States and the Confederacy, and pledged the full support of the state to the federal government in its effort to preserve the Union. 2. On May 13, 1874, the...
5 Fun Facts About May 12 In Illinois History
1. On May 12, 1909, the Illinois legislature passed the "Illinois White Slave Traffic Act," also known as the Mann Act. This federal law prohibited the transportation of women across state lines for immoral purposes, such as prostitution. 2. In 1970, an F-4 tornado struck the northern Illinois town of...
5 Fun Facts About May 11 In Illinois History
1. On May 11, 1865, the last Confederate military force east of the Mississippi River surrendered in Gainesville, Alabama. This marked the effective end of the American Civil War in the eastern theater. 2. On May 11, 1871, Illinois became the first state to establish a legal holiday for workers,...