Today In History
5 Fun Facts About April 14 In Illinois History
1. Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865, while attending a play at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. Lincoln, who had strong ties to Illinois, is one of the state's most beloved and important historical figures. 2. On April 14, 1927, Ardell Williams, a 12-year-old girl from Illinois, became...
5 Fun Facts About April 13 In Illinois History
1. On April 13, 1906, the historic Hotel Florence opened its doors in the village of Pullman, located on the south side of Chicago. The hotel was named after the Pullman Palace Car Company's founder, George M. Pullman, who built the community of Pullman as a planned industrial town for...
5 Fun Facts About April 12 In Illinois History
1. On April 12, 1945, President Franklin D. Roosevelt died of a massive stroke at his vacation home in Warm Springs, Georgia. Roosevelt, who served as president from 1933 until his death, is remembered as one of the most influential presidents in U.S. history for his leadership during World War...
5 Fun Facts About December 4 In Illinois History
1. On December 4, 1867, the first shipment of a new breed of winter wheat called "Illinois Spring" was sent from Carbondale, Illinois to Liverpool, England. This wheat proved to be critical in feeding the world's growing population and helped make Illinois a leading agricultural state. 2. In 1876, the...
5 Fun Facts About July 25 In Illinois History
1. In 1814, the first school in Chicago, the Kinzie School, was established. The school was named after its founder, John Kinzie, who was a fur trader and the first permanent white settler in the Chicago area. 2. In 1866, Chicago's first professional baseball team, the Chicago White Stockings (later...
5 Fun Facts About May 1 In Illinois History
Here are five interesting facts about May 1 in Illinois history: 1. In 1886, the Haymarket Riot in Chicago occurred on May 1. The labor protest turned violent when a bomb was thrown at police, resulting in several deaths and injuries. This event had a significant impact on the labor...
5 Fun Facts About April 11 In Illinois History
1. On April 11, 1816, the Illinois Territory was established by an act of Congress. This new territory at that time included what is now Illinois, parts of Wisconsin and Michigan, and a portion of Minnesota. 2. On April 11, 1865, Union General James Wilson and his cavalry entered into Tuscaloosa,...
5 Fun Facts About April 10 In Illinois History
1. In 2010, the Illinois Fighting Illini men's gymnastics team won their 10th National Championship at the NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championships in West Point, New York. 2. In 1957, the Chicago Cubs played their first game at Wrigley Field under permanent lights. They lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2. 3....
5 Fun Facts About April 9 In Illinois History
1. In 1865, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia, effectively ending the American Civil War. This event had significant consequences for Illinois, as the state had sent over 250,000 soldiers to fight in the war, more than any...
5 Fun Facts About April 8 In Illinois History
1. In 1874, the University of Illinois was officially established with the signing of the Industrial University Act by Illinois Governor Richard J. Oglesby. The institution, which began as a small agricultural college, has since grown into a world-renowned research university with a diverse student body. 2. In 1921, the...
5 Fun Facts About April 7 In Illinois History
1. In 1964, the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) was established. Originally known as the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle, the institution merged with the University of Illinois in 1982 and became the largest university in the Chicago area. 2. On April 7, 1943, the United States Office...
5 Fun Facts About April 6 In Illinois History
1. In 1838, the first issue of the Illinois State Register was published in Springfield. The newspaper was initially a Whig publication and later became a Republican newspaper. 2. On April 6, 1852, the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad was incorporated. This railway was one of the first to connect...