Today In History
5 Fun Facts About December 19 In Illinois History
1. On December 19, 1848, the Illinois and Michigan Canal was completed, linking the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. This canal was crucial for transportation and shipping in the Midwest region, and helped Chicago become a major center for commerce. 2. In 1865, the state of Illinois adopted a...
5 Fun Facts About December 18 In Illinois History
1. President Abraham Lincoln arrived in Springfield, Illinois, on December 18, 1837, to begin his career as a lawyer. He would establish a successful practice before embarking on his political career and becoming the 16th President of the United States. 2. On December 18, 1892, the first game of basketball...
5 Fun Facts About December 17 In Illinois History
1. On December 17, 1875, the first game of the National League of Professional Baseball Clubs was held in Chicago. The Chicago White Stockings (now known as the Cubs) defeated the Louisville Grays 4-0. 2. The construction of the Union Stock Yard in Chicago began on December 17, 1864. The...
5 Fun Facts About December 16 In Illinois History
1. In 1811, the first White settler of Chicago, Jean Baptiste Point Du Sable, was arrested and imprisoned in St. Charles on December 16. 2. On December 16, 1835, the Great Fire of Chicago burned almost all of the city’s business district, which was later rebuilt using the latest fireproof...
5 Fun Facts About December 15 In Illinois History
1. On December 15, 1824, the Illinois General Assembly passed the Internal Improvement Act, which authorized the state to undertake a comprehensive program of public works. The act led to the construction of a vast network of roads, bridges, canals, and railroads, which helped to stimulate economic growth and development...
5 Fun Facts About December 14 In Illinois History
1. In 1960, the first McDonald's restaurant in Illinois was opened in Des Plaines. The fast food chain, now with thousands of locations worldwide, has its roots firmly planted in the state's history. 2. On December 14, 1914, the World's Tallest Thermometer was established in the town of Streator, Illinois....
5 Fun Facts About December 13 In Illinois History
1. On December 13, 1830, the small town of Chicago, Illinois was incorporated as a city with a population of just over 4,000 people. Today, Chicago is the third-largest city in the United States with a population of approximately 2.7 million people. 2. In 1862, Union General Ulysses S. Grant...
5 Fun Facts About December 12 In Illinois History
1. On December 12, 1817, the Illinois Territory was created. Prior to this, the area was part of a larger territory known as the Northwest Territory. 2. In 1893, the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago closed after six months of celebrating the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' arrival in North...
5 Fun Facts About December 11 In Illinois History
1. On December 11, 1816, Indiana became the 19th state of the United States. This event marked the beginning of Illinois' westward neighbor and represented a major development in the expansion of the young country. 2. In 1833, the Black Hawk War officially ended with the signing of a treaty...
5 Fun Facts About December 10 In Illinois History
1. On December 10, 1816, Illinois was admitted as the 21st state in the United States of America. The state was originally settled by French explorers in the late 17th century and saw significant growth during the 19th century with the development of the railroad and other industries. 2. On...
5 Fun Facts About December 9 In Illinois History
1. In 1872, the first-ever women's prison in the United States - the Illinois State Reformatory for Women - was established in Dwight, Illinois. It was built to offer women inmates an opportunity for reform and rehabilitation. 2. On December 9, 1884, the state of Illinois passed a law requiring...
5 Fun Facts About December 8 In Illinois History
1. On December 8, 1835, the first issue of the Chicago Whig, a newspaper, was published in Illinois. The paper would later merge with another newspaper to form the Chicago Tribune. 2. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation declaring December 8 as a national day of thanksgiving and...