Here are 5 interesting facts about March 12 in Illinois history:

1. On March 12, 1839, the Illinois General Assembly passed a law establishing a state board of education. This made Illinois the first state in the nation to establish a permanent and comprehensive system of public education.

2. In 1859, Abraham Lincoln delivered a speech at the Young Men's Association in Bloomington, Illinois, where he famously declared, "A house divided against itself cannot stand." This speech later became a centerpiece of his 1860 presidential campaign.

3. March 12, 1912, marked the opening of the Studebaker Theater in Chicago. The theater was named after the Studebaker family, who were successful carriage makers and automobile manufacturers, and was designed to showcase live performances and movies.

4. Chicago's historic Auditorium Theater opened its doors on March 12, 1889. Designed by renowned architects Louis Sullivan and Dankmar Adler, the theater was one of the first buildings in the world to feature air conditioning and had a capacity of over 4,000 people.

5. On March 12, 1930, Illinois Governor Henry Horner signed a bill establishing the East St. Louis Teacher's College, which later became Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The university is now one of the top public universities in the Midwest, with over 14,000 students enrolled.