1. On January 25, 1927, the historic Riviera Theatre opened its doors in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood. The lavish movie palace, designed in the French Renaissance style, boasted 2,500 seats and was considered one of the most elegant theaters in the city.

2. The Illinois State Capitol was dedicated on January 25, 1877, after six years of construction. The impressive building, located in Springfield, features a 361-foot dome, stunning murals and artwork, and a beautiful rotunda.

3. On January 25, 1949, the world's first successful lung transplant was performed at the University of Illinois' Billings Hospital in Chicago. Dr. James D. Hardy performed the groundbreaking surgery, which involved transplanting a lung from a deceased donor into a patient with tuberculosis.

4. A massive snowstorm hit Chicago on January 25, 1979, dumping 20 inches of snow in less than 24 hours. The blizzard caused widespread power outages, shut down public transportation and was responsible for 10 deaths and millions of dollars in damages.

5. On January 25, 2005, Illinois Senator Barack Obama announced his candidacy for President of the United States. Obama, who was serving in his first term in the Senate at the time, went on to win the presidency in 2008, becoming the first African American to hold the office.