Today In History
5 Fun Facts About March 22 In Illinois History
1. In 1832, the first organized horse racing meet occurred in Chicago, which featured a two-mile race with a prize of $100. 2. In 1865, the Chicago Board of Trade was officially organized, making it one of the oldest commodities exchanges in the world. 3. In 1906, the first legal...
5 Fun Facts About March 21 In Illinois History
1. On March 21, 1935, the first flood control district was created in Illinois. The Pike County Soil and Water Conservation District was established as part of the Soil Conservation Act, with the aim of addressing soil erosion and water quality issues in the region. 2. March 21, 1867, saw...
5 Fun Facts About March 20 In Illinois History
March 20 in Illinois history has seen its fair share of notable events and happenings. Here are five interesting facts: 1. The Illinois General Assembly met for the first time on March 20, 1819. The capital was then located in Kaskaskia, Illinois, and the meeting marked an important moment in...
5 Fun Facts About March 19 In Illinois History
1. Illinois became a state on December 3, 1818, but it wasn't until March 19, 1867, that the Illinois legislature authorized the creation of the Illinois State Board of Health, which was among the first state public health boards in the United States. 2. On March 19, 1915, the Eastland...
5 Fun Facts About March 18 In Illinois History
1. In 1963, the Illinois Tollway opened its first section of the Northwest Tollway between Des Plaines and Elgin. This new highway allowed for faster travel and helped spur development in the surrounding areas. 2. On March 18, 2005, the Illinois Senate passed landmark legislation that required all new homes...
5 Fun Facts About March 17 In Illinois History
1. St. Patrick's Day Parade in Chicago One of the biggest and most famous events in Illinois on March 17 is the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Chicago. It is one of the largest St. Patrick's Day parades in the country, drawing close to a million spectators each year. The...
5 Fun Facts About March 16 In Illinois History
1. On March 16, 1937, a massive tornado swept through Southern Illinois, killing over 500 people and leaving thousands injured and homeless. The tornado remains one of the deadliest in US history. 2. In 1965, the state of Illinois adopted a new state flag on March 16, which featured an...
5 Fun Facts About March 15 In Illinois History
Here are five interesting facts about March 15 in Illinois history: 1. In 1865, a fire broke out at the Willard Hotel in Springfield, Illinois. The hotel was where Abraham Lincoln stayed during his time as a lawyer in the city. Luckily, the fire was contained before it could cause...
5 Fun Facts About March 14 In Illinois History
1. On March 14, 1864, the Illinois state legislature authorized the creation of a state hospital for the insane in Jacksonville. The hospital, known as the Jacksonville Developmental Center, operated for over a century before closing in 2002. 2. March 14, 1895 saw the birth of Sam Giancana, a notorious...
5 Fun Facts About March 13 In Illinois History
1. The first recorded volleyball game in Illinois took place on March 13, 1895, at the YMCA in Holyoke Hall in Springfield. The game was invented just four years prior in Massachusetts. 2. On March 13, 1980, a catastrophic explosion occurred at the Willow Island Power Plant in West Virginia,...
5 Fun Facts About March 12 In Illinois History
Here are 5 interesting facts about March 12 in Illinois history: 1. On March 12, 1839, the Illinois General Assembly passed a law establishing a state board of education. This made Illinois the first state in the nation to establish a permanent and comprehensive system of public education. 2. In...
5 Fun Facts About March 11 In Illinois History
1. On March 11, 1861, the first shots of the Civil War were fired in the state of Illinois when Confederate sympathizers attacked a train carrying Union troops in the town of Cairo. 2. In 1933, on March 11, the first recorded case of a tornado being successfully predicted occurred...