1. Illinois was admitted as the 21st state in the United States on December 3, 1818. However, on September 8th of that same year, a resolution was passed in the Illinois House of Representatives to celebrate the state's upcoming admission to the Union.

2. In 1908, the first airplane flight in Illinois took place on September 8th. Inventor and pilot Glenn Curtiss flew a biplane over a mile at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, impressing spectators with his skill and pioneering spirit.

3. On September 8, 1947, workers at the Caterpillar Tractor Company in Peoria went on strike, protesting low wages and poor working conditions. The strike lasted for five months, becoming one of the longest and most bitter labor disputes in Illinois history.

4. In 1965, folk singer Phil Ochs played a concert at the University of Chicago's International House on September 8th. His performance was part of a nationwide tour promoting his latest album, "I Ain't Marching Anymore," which featured anti-war songs and social commentary.

5. On September 8, 1974, President Gerald Ford visited Chicago's Chinatown neighborhood as part of an effort to boost his popularity and promote goodwill between the United States and China. The visit was met with mixed reactions from the community, with some residents protesting the lack of attention to local issues and others welcoming the attention from the president.