1. In 1871, the first women's suffrage bill in Illinois history is presented to the state legislature on March 8. The bill proposed granting women the right to vote in all elections, including presidential elections, but it was not approved.

2. On March 8, 1904, the Chicago Municipal Tuberculosis Sanitarium opened. The sanitarium was dedicated to treating tuberculosis, a highly infectious and deadly disease that was widespread at the time, and it was the first such facility in the United States to be financed by public funds.

3. In 1911, the first International Women's Day is celebrated on March 8, with a rally in Chicago's Union Square. The event was organized by the Women's Trade Union League and featured speeches by female labor activists calling for women's right to vote and better working conditions.

4. On March 8, 1937, the Illinois River reached its highest recorded flood stage at Ottawa, Illinois, with water levels reaching 33.43 feet. The flooding caused significant damage to many towns along the river, including Ottawa, LaSalle, and Peru.

5. In 1963, Illinois state lawmakers approved a new state symbol on March 8, designating the white-tailed deer as the official state animal. The deer, commonly found throughout the state's forests and fields, was chosen to represent Illinois' natural beauty and wildlife diversity.