1. In 1852, the Illinois Central Railroad was completed, connecting Cairo, Illinois to Galena, Illinois. This made transportation easier and helped to fuel Illinois' economic growth.

2. In 1957, the world's first controlled nuclear fusion device, the tokamak, was successfully tested at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.

3. In 1970, the Illinois State Constitution was rewritten and adopted. It remains the governing document of the state today.

4. In 1992, the Chicago Bulls held Michael Jordan Day to celebrate the basketball legend's return to the team. Jordan had retired briefly from basketball to play baseball before returning to the Bulls.

5. In 2018, the Chicago White Sox played their last game at Guaranteed Rate Field before beginning a major renovation project. The ballpark opened as U.S. Cellular Field in 2003 and was renamed in 2016.