Illinois Bicentennial

Lincoln Selected As Republican Presidential Nominee... Again - June 8

State Farm Insurance Is Found In Bloomington - June 7

State Farm was founded in 1922 by retired farmer George J. Mecherle as a mutual automobile insurance company owned by its policyholders in Bloomington, Illinois.

Sally Rand Heats Up Chicago's World's Fair With 'Fan Dance' - May 30

Sally Rand was a burlesque dancer, vedette, and actress, most noted for her ostrich feather fan dance and balloon bubble dance... notably during the 1933 World's Fair in Chicago.

Chicago's Elevated "L" Train Launches - June 6

The Chicago "L" is the rapid transit system serving the city of Chicago and some of its surrounding suburbs in the U.S. state of Illinois. It began operation on June 6, 1892.

Ronald Reagan, 40th President Of The United States Passes - June 5

German Submarine U-505 Captured By US Navy - June 4

U-505 was built for Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II and was captured by the U.S. Navy on 4 June 1944.

Chess Records Founded On Chicago's Southside In 1950 - June 3

Chess Records was an American record company, founded in 1950 in Chicago and specializing in blues and rhythm and blues.

Construction Ends On Illinois State Capitol - June 2

DeWitt Clinton Creiger, Chicago Mayor Is Born - June 1

DeWitt Clinton Cregier served as mayor of Chicago, Illinois for the Democratic Party from 1889 to 1891.

John Jones, Illinois' 1st Elected African American Dies - May 31

Illinois' Republican Party Is Organized In 1856 - May 29

Labor Riots Erupt In East St. Louis - May 28

The East St. Louis riots of May and July 1917 were an outbreak of labor- and race-related violence that caused the death of at least 40 Black people and approximately $400,000 in property damage.

'Wild Bill' Hickok, Old West Legend Is Born - May 27

Jazz Trumpet Legend, Miles Davis Born In Alton - May 26

Miles Davis was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. Photo: Shutterstock

Legislature Votes To Establish Illinois State Museum - May 25

On May 25, 1877, the legislature voted to establish the Illinois State Museum of Natural History in the west wing space intended for the state library.

Lincoln Defends Goings With 'Tennessee Water' - May 24

On April 14, 1857, an argument between the elderly Roswell Goings and wife Melissa turned violent. Defending herself, Melissa picked up a piece of wood and struck two blows. Her husband sustained a skull fracture and died a few days later. Melissa Goings was nowhere to be found. What happened is still unclear. According to the court's bailiff, Robert Cassell, Lincoln took advantage of a private conference with his client to suggest that she flee. Confronted by the bailiff when Goings could no...

Morrow Plots Open At University of Illinois - May 23

The Morrow Plots is an experimental agricultural field at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Named for Professor George E. Morrow, it is the oldest such field in the United States and the second oldest in the world.

Chanute Field Opens Near Rantoul In 1917 - May 22

Chanute Field was established on May 22, 1917. It was one of thirty-two Air Service training camps established after the United States entry into World War I. The base was closed in 1993.

Chuck Berry Records 'Maybellene' In Chicago - May 21

'Maybellene' was written and recorded in 1955 by Chuck Berry, and inspired/adapted from the Western Swing fiddle tune "Ida Red", which was recorded in 1938 by Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys.

Businessman Porter Palmer Is Born - May 20

Potter Palmer was an American businessman who was responsible for much of the development of State Street in Chicago.

Mary Todd Lincoln Declared Insane, Institutionalized - May 19

Lincoln Becomes Republican Nominee For President - May 18

'Land of Lincoln' Becomes State Slogan - May 17

Navy Recruiter 'King Neptune' Is Born - May 16

King Neptune was a pig used by a United States Navy recruiter to raise $19 million in war bonds for the construction of the Iowa-class battleship Illinois between 1942 and 1946. King Neptune was born May 16, 1942.

Chicago Mayor, Richard J. Daley Born In 1902 - May 15

Lewis & Clark Begin Journey To The West - May 14

Cyrus McCormick, Inventor Of 'Mechanical Reaper' Passes Away - May 13

Cyrus McCormick was an American inventor and businessman who founded the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, which later became part of the International Harvester Company in 1902.

Max Adler Opens First Planetarium In Western World - May 12

The Adler Planetarium is a public museum dedicated to the study of astronomy and astrophysics. It was founded in 1930 by Chicago business leader Max Adler.

Pullman Strike Begins In Chicago, Spreads Nationwide - May 11

The Pullman Strike was a nationwide railroad strike in the United States that lasted from May 11 to July 20, 1894, and a turning point for US labor law.

Morton Salt Founder Passes Away At 78 - May 10

Joy Sterling Morton was an American businessman and entrepreneur best known for founding Morton Salt and establishing the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois. He passed away at the age of 78 on May 10, 1934.

'Northern Cross', Illinois' First Railroad Begins Construction - May 9

Illinois' Longest Serving Governor Is Born - May 8

Jim Thompson was the 37th and longest-serving Governor of the US state of Illinois, serving from 1977 to 1991. Thompson was born on May 8, 1936 in Chicago.

Duff Armstrong's Almanac Trial Begins - May 7

Works Progress Administration Is Established - May 6

The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious American New Deal agency, employing millions of people to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads.

The Chicago Defender Is Founded - May 5

The Chicago Defender is a Chicago-based weekly newspaper founded on May 5, 1905 by Robert S. Abbott for primarily African-American readers.

Haymarket Riot Rocks Chicago In 1886 - May 4

Haymarket Riot was the aftermath of a bombing that took place at a labor demonstration on Tuesday, May 4, 1886, at Haymarket Square in Chicago.

Lincoln Funeral Procession Returns To Springfield - May 3

After thirteen days traveling from Washington D.C., Lincoln's funeral car reached Springfield, where the late president lay in state in the Illinois Hall of Representatives in the State Capitol.

Bahá'í House of Worship Opens In Wilmette - May 2

The Bahá'í House of Worship is a temple in Wilmette, Illinois and is one of ten dedicated temples of the Bahá'í Faith. It is the oldest surviving Bahá'í House of Worship in the world and was dedicated on May 2, 1953.

World's Columbian Exposition Opens In Chicago - May 1

Also known as the Chicago World's Fair opened on May 1, 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492.

The Birth of Route 66 – April 30

Friday, April 30, 1926, was the red-letter day — the day that the impasse over Route 60 began to be resolved, and and the future Route 66 born.

Chicago Columnist, Mike Royko Passes At 64 - April 29

Michael Royko Jr. was an American newspaper columnist from Chicago. Over his 30-year career, he wrote over 7,500 daily columns for three newspapers, the Chicago Daily News, the Chicago Sun-Times, and the Chicago Tribune. He passed away at the age of 64 on April 29, 1941.

Arthur Mitchell, 1st Black Democratic Congressman Wins Historic Lawsuit - April 28

Arthur W. Mitchell, the first African American to be elected to the United States Congress as a Democrat, filed a lawsuit against the Illinois Central and Rock Island Railroads after he was forced into a segregated train car just before it passed into Arkansas. Mitchell's suit was advanced to the U.S. Supreme Court as case Mitchell v. the United States, which ruled that the railroad violated the Interstate Commerce Act.

Arthur St. Clair Designates 1st County In Illinois - April 27

Organ Music Comes To Friendly Confines In 1941 - April 26

On April 26, 1941, the Cubs became the first Major League team to have organ music at a ballgame.

Woman's World's Fair Wraps Up In Chicago - April 25

Augustine Tolton Becomes First Black Priest - April 24

Augustine Tolton was the first Roman Catholic priest in the United States publicly known to be black when he was ordained on April 24,1886.

Lincoln Rival, Stephen A. Douglas Born In 1813 - April 23

Stephen A. Douglas was an American politician from Illinois and the designer of the Kansas–Nebraska Act. He was a member of the House of Representatives, the United States Senate, and the Democratic Party nominee for president in the 1860 election, losing to Republican Abraham Lincoln.

Original Mississippi River Bridge Opens - April 22

On April 22, 1856, the first bridge to cross the Mississippi River was completed between Rock Island and Davenport. Just 15 days later, the bridge was struck by a steamboat and burned.

Lager Beer Riot In Chicago - April 21

The Lager Beer Riot occurred on April 21, 1855 in Chicago, Illinois. Mayor Levi Boone renewed enforcement of an old local ordinance mandating that taverns be closed on Sundays and led the city council to raise the cost of a liquor license from $50 per year to $300 per year, renewable quarterly.

Chief Pontiac Killed By Peoria Warrior - April 20

On April 20, 1769, Pontiac, the famous chief of the Ottawa Indians, was murdered by a member of the Illini tribe.