1. In 1845, the Illinois legislature voted to grant a charter to the Illinois Central Railroad, which was to help develop transportation and commerce in the state. The railroad became one of the most important transportation networks in the Midwest and helped to shape Illinois' economy and society.

2. On January 23, 1855, the first modern bridge over the Mississippi River was completed in Rock Island. Named the Rock Island Arsenal Bridge, it was a swing bridge and was opened to traffic on June 10, 1856.

3. In 1915, the first hospital school of nursing in Illinois was established in Springfield. The school was affiliated with St. John's Hospital and provided training for young women who wanted to become registered nurses.

4. January 23, 1963, was marked by the inauguration of Illinois' 34th governor, Otto Kerner Jr. Kerner served as governor from 1961 to 1968 and is remembered as a champion of racial justice and urban development.

5. On January 23, 2002, the Illinois State Senate voted unanimously to grant a posthumous pardon to John Johnson, who had been falsely accused and convicted of rape and murder in 1945. The pardon came after years of effort by Johnson's family and supporters to clear his name.