Today In History
5 Fun Facts About April 15 In Indiana History
1. Indiana Became a State on April 15, 1816: On this day, Indiana officially became a state, making it the 19th state to join the Union. To celebrate this occasion, the Indiana Bicentennial Commission organized a series of events in 2016, including a torch relay that traveled through all 92...
5 Fun Facts About April 14 In Indiana History
1. On April 14, 1825, the Lafayette Journal & Courier was founded. The Lafayette Journal & Courier is a daily newspaper serving the Lafayette-West Lafayette area of Indiana. It was founded on April 14, 1825, and has won numerous awards for its outstanding journalism throughout the years. 2. On April...
5 Fun Facts About April 13 In Indiana History
1. On April 13, 1946, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway reopened for racing after World War II. The first event held was a midget car race won by Duke Nalon. 2. On April 13, 1957, the Indiana State Museum was established by the Indiana General Assembly. It is the official museum...
5 Fun Facts About April 12 In Indiana History
1. In 1862, Andrews' Raiders, also known as the Great Locomotive Chase, occurred in Indiana. A group of Union soldiers stole a train from a Confederate camp in Georgia and attempted to destroy railways and telegraph lines to disrupt Confederate communication during the American Civil War. The Raiders were eventually...
5 Fun Facts About April 11 In Illinois History
1. On April 11, 1816, the Illinois Territory was established by an act of Congress. This new territory at that time included what is now Illinois, parts of Wisconsin and Michigan, and a portion of Minnesota. 2. On April 11, 1865, Union General James Wilson and his cavalry entered into Tuscaloosa,...
5 Fun Facts About April 10 In Illinois History
1. In 2010, the Illinois Fighting Illini men's gymnastics team won their 10th National Championship at the NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championships in West Point, New York. 2. In 1957, the Chicago Cubs played their first game at Wrigley Field under permanent lights. They lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2. 3....
5 Fun Facts About April 9 In Illinois History
1. In 1865, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia, effectively ending the American Civil War. This event had significant consequences for Illinois, as the state had sent over 250,000 soldiers to fight in the war, more than any...
5 Fun Facts About April 8 In Illinois History
1. In 1874, the University of Illinois was officially established with the signing of the Industrial University Act by Illinois Governor Richard J. Oglesby. The institution, which began as a small agricultural college, has since grown into a world-renowned research university with a diverse student body. 2. In 1921, the...
5 Fun Facts About April 7 In Illinois History
1. In 1964, the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) was established. Originally known as the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle, the institution merged with the University of Illinois in 1982 and became the largest university in the Chicago area. 2. On April 7, 1943, the United States Office...
5 Fun Facts About April 6 In Illinois History
1. In 1838, the first issue of the Illinois State Register was published in Springfield. The newspaper was initially a Whig publication and later became a Republican newspaper. 2. On April 6, 1852, the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad was incorporated. This railway was one of the first to connect...
5 Fun Facts About April 5 In Illinois History
1. April 5, 1911: The Illinois State Capitol Building is complete. The Illinois State Capitol Building, located in Springfield, was completed in 1911. It is a beautiful example of neoclassical architecture and is topped by a large dome that is 361 feet tall. 2. April 5, 1933: Prohibition is repealed....
5 Fun Facts About April 4 In Illinois History
1. On April 4, 1948, the Union Stock Yards in Chicago officially closed. The stock yards were once the largest livestock market in the world, and played a significant role in the growth of the city of Chicago. 2. In 1968, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated...