Posted on: July 30, 2012 Posted by: bruce Comments: 0

Illinois State Facts – Part III

51. Famous events – The Black Hawk War was a brief conflict fought in 1832 between the United States and Native Americans headed by Black Hawk, a Sauk leader. The war started soon after Black Hawk and other Native Americans crossed into Illinois territory.
52. Famous events – During the Civil War, over 250,000 Illinois men served in the Union Army, coming 4th in the states.
53. Famous events – The Great Chicago Fire was a massive blaze that burned from October 8-10, 1871, killing hundreds of people and destroying about 3.3 square miles of land in Chicago. The rebuilding that came from the fire’s destruction helped develop Chicago as one of the most populous and economically important American cities. The exact cause of the fire was never determined.
54. Tourist attractions – The Lewis and Clark State Historic Site in Hartford commemorates Camp Dubois, the 1803-1804 winter camp of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.
55. Tourist attractions – The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum documents the life of the 16th U.S. President, Abraham Lincoln, as well as the course of the American Civil War.
56. Tourist attractions – The Art Institute of Chicago is a renowned art museum, home to one of the world’s most notable collections of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art.
57. Tourist attractions – Pontiac, Illinois is home to the Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum, a museum featuring thousands of artifacts and memorabilia related to Route 66, including the World’s Largest Route 66 shield.
58. Tourist attractions – The Illinois State Museum in Springfield has permanent and changing exhibits on Illinois’s land, life, people and art.
59. Famous citizens – Bonnie Blair (1964 – ) bonnie Blair was born in Champaign, Illinois in 1964 and she is the only American woman to Win a U.S. record of five individual gold medals over three Olympic Games; Bonnie Blair was born in Illinois and she is known as a famous speed skater.
60. Famous citizens – Tom Bosley (1927 – 2010) Thomas Edward “Tom” Bosley was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1927 and he died in 2010. Tom Bosley was an American actor, best known for portraying Howard Cunningham on the long-running ABC sitcom Happy Days. Additionally, he appeared on the series Murder, She Wrote and Father Dowling Mysteries, and originated the title role of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway musical Fiorello!, earning the 1960 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical.
61. Famous citizens – Hillary Rodham Clinton (1947 – ) Hillary Rodham Clinton was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1947, she is a Lawyer, politician, First Lady to President Bill Clinton and the First Lady elected to the United States Senate. Hillary Rodham Clinton ran for President, but she lost to President Barrack Obama. She is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama
62. Famous citizens – Ronald Wilson Reagan (1911 – 2004) President Ronald Wilson Reagan was born in Tampico, Illinois in 1911 and he died in 2004. Ronald Reagan was the 40th President of the United States. Ronald Reagan served two terms as President of the United States; he was a former actor and the governor of California.
63. Famous citizens – Walt Disney (1901 – 1966) Walt Disney was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1901 and he died in 1966. Walt Disney was the Creator of Mickey Mouse and founder of the Disneyland and Walt Disney World Theme Parks; He lived in Hollywood. Walt Disney was a Christian and a Republican.
64. Famous citizens – Shel Silverstein (1930 – 1999) Shel Silverstein was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1930 and he died in 1999. Shel Silverstein was an Author of children’s books such as Where the Sidewalk Ends and The Giving Tree. His books are excellent and are still loved by children today.
65. Famous citizens – James “Wild Bill” Hickok (1837 – 1876) Wild Bill Hickock was born in Troy Grove, Illinois in 1837 and he died in 1876. Wild Bill Hickock was a scout and U.S. marshal in the Old West. He was killed by a shot to the back of the head by a man who was too afraid to face him face to face.
66. Famous citizens – George Ferris (1859 – 1896) George Ferris was born in Galesburg, Illinois in 1859 and he died in 1896. George Ferris was the Inventor of the Ferris wheel for the 1893 Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition. The Ferris Wheel had 36 cars, each fitted with 40 revolving chairs and able to accommodate up to 60 people, giving a total capacity of 2,160.
67. Famous citizens – Harriet Monroe (1860 – 1936) was an American editor, scholar, literary critic, poet, and patron of the arts. She is best known as the founding publisher and long-time editor of Poetry magazine, which debuted in 1912.
68. Famous citizens – Robert Pershing Wadlow (1918-1940) is the tallest person to ever have lived, reaching 8 feet 11.1 inches before his death.
69. The world’s first skyscraper was built in Chicago in 1885.
70. Peoria is Illinois’s oldest community.
71. The Willis (formerly Sears) Tower in Chicago is the tallest building in North America.
72. Illinois was the first state to ratify the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865, abolishing slavery.
73. Chicago is home to the Chicago Water Tower and Pumping Station, the only buildings to survive the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
74. The round Silo for farm storage of silage was first constructed on a farm in Spring Grove.
75. Illinois has more units of government than any other state (i.e., city, county, township, etc.). Over six thousand. One contributing reason may be the township governments, which are generally six miles square.
76. The worst prison camp during the Civil War in terms of percentages of death was at Rock Island in Illinois.

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