1. In 1920, Illinois became the first state to ratify the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. This was a significant victory for the women's suffrage movement and paved the way for nationwide reform.

2. On May 16, 1946, the Great Central United States earthquake rattled the Midwest, including parts of Illinois. With a magnitude of 5.0, it caused widespread damage and panic, and was felt as far away as Tennessee.

3. In 1964, the Chicago Freedom Movement held a large demonstration in Chicago to protest segregation and housing discrimination. Led by Martin Luther King Jr., the protest drew thousands of participants and helped bring attention to systemic racism in the city.

4. On May 16, 1978, the Chicago Cubs played their first game under the lights at Wrigley Field. The night game marked a significant departure from the team's longstanding tradition of playing only day games, and drew a crowd of over 37,000 fans.

5. In 1983, the final episode of the iconic television series M*A*S*H aired. The show, which was set at a mobile army surgical hospital during the Korean War, had strong ties to Illinois, as it was based on a book by Illinois author Richard Hooker. The finale remains one of the most-watched television events in American history.