1. The first successful powered airplane flight in Illinois took place on October 3, 1905. Aviation pioneers Orville and Wilbur Wright piloted the plane at the Huffman Prairie Flying Field near Dayton, Ohio, but made many other flights across the country during their career.

2. On October 3, 1913, the first soccer game took place at Soldier Field in Chicago. Over 10,000 spectators watched the Chicago Americans defeat the Swedish American team 2-1.

3. The Sears Tower (now known as Willis Tower) was officially opened on October 3, 1974. Standing at 110 stories tall, it was the tallest building in the world until 1997.

4. On October 3, 1986, former Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton became the NFL's all-time leading rusher, breaking the record previously held by Jim Brown. Payton finished his career with 16,726 rushing yards.

5. In 1778, George Rogers Clark led a raid on the British-held village of Kaskaskia in present-day Illinois. The successful attack helped secure the Illinois territory for American forces during the Revolutionary War. October 3 would later become known as "George Rogers Clark Day" in Illinois.