1. In 1836, the Illinois and Michigan Canal was officially opened. This 96-mile-long canal connected the Chicago River to the Illinois River, providing a vital transportation route for goods and passengers between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River.
2. On October 15, 1917, the Camp Grant Riot occurred in Rockford, Illinois. A group of African American soldiers stationed at Camp Grant were attacked by a mob of white civilians, leading to a three-day riot that resulted in several deaths and injuries.
3. The first recorded airmail flight in Illinois took place on October 15, 1918. Pilot Edward Hamilton flew a De Haviland DH-4 airplane from New York City to Chicago, carrying 1,000 pounds of mail and making several stops along the way.
4. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign was officially founded on October 15, 1867, with classes beginning two years later in 1869. Today, the University of Illinois is a leading public research institution with over 50,000 students and a diverse range of academic programs.
5. Chicago's historic Biograph Theater, where notorious gangster John Dillinger was shot and killed by FBI agents on July 22, 1934, first opened its doors on October 15, 1914. The theater, which underwent several renovations and changes over the years, closed in 2004 and is now a live performance venue.
5 Fun Facts About October 15 In Illinois History
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