Portal:Illinois

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The Illinois Portal

The flag of Illinois

, the state's capital.

Illinois has a highly diverse

microcosm of the United States and a bellwether in American culture, exemplified by the phrase Will it play in Peoria?
.

Present-day Illinois was inhabited by various indigenous cultures for thousands of years, including the advanced civilization centered in the

Sweden. In the mid-19th century, the Illinois and Michigan Canal
and a sprawling railroad network greatly facilitated trade, commerce, and settlement, making the state a transportation hub for the nation.

Selected article

This 1886 engraving was the most widely reproduced image of the Haymarket affair.
This 1886 engraving was the most widely reproduced image of the Haymarket affair.

The

demonstration on Tuesday May 4, 1886, at Haymarket Square in Chicago. It began as a peaceful rally in support of workers striking for an eight-hour day and in reaction to the killing of several workers the previous day by the police. An unknown person threw a dynamite bomb at Chicago police
as they acted to disperse the public meeting. The bomb blast and ensuing gunfire resulted in the deaths of seven police officers and at least four civilians; scores of others were wounded.

In the internationally publicized legal proceedings that followed, eight

commuted by Illinois governor Richard J. Oglesby to terms of life in prison, and another committed suicide in jail. The other four were hanged on November 11, 1887. In 1893, Illinois' new governor John Peter Altgeld
pardoned the remaining defendants and criticized the trial.

The Haymarket affair is generally considered significant as the origin of international

Chicago Landmark in 1992, and a public sculpture was dedicated there in 2004. In addition, the Haymarket Martyrs' Monument at the defendants' burial site in nearby Forest Park was designated a National Historic Landmark
in 1997.

(Read more...)

Selected biography

Jean Baptiste Point du Sable
Jean Baptiste Point du Sable

Jean Baptiste Point du Sable (before 1750 – August 28, 1818) is regarded as the first permanent resident of what became Chicago, Illinois. Little is known of his life prior to the 1770s. In the early 1780s he worked for the British lieutenant-governor of Michilimackinac on an estate at what is now the city of St. Clair, Michigan, before moving to settle at the mouth of the Chicago River. He is first recorded living in Chicago in early 1790, having apparently become established sometime earlier. He sold his property in Chicago in 1800 and moved to St. Charles, Missouri, where he died on August 28, 1818. Point du Sable has become known as the "Founder of Chicago". In Chicago, a school, museum, harbor, park and bridge have been named, or renamed, in his honor; and the place where he settled at the mouth of the Chicago River in the 1780s is recognized as a National Historic Landmark, now located in Pioneer Court.(Read more...)

Did you know...

  • ... that although Olga Hartman believed that her basic research on marine worms had no practical value, it was applied to experimental studies of oysters?
  • ... that Jack Washburn was called "Cinderella Boy" for winning a starring role in his first Broadway show?
  • ... that four course records were broken during the 2023 Chicago Marathon (women's winner pictured)?
  • ... that the restaurant CosMc's is named after a character from McDonaldland?
  • ... that Salty Parker, who spent 60 years in organized baseball, described his lifelong love of the game as "a beautiful disease"?
  • ... that authorities said the
    2023 Israel–Hamas war
    ?


Selected images

Recent news

Featured content

Topics

Culture: Chicago Blues FestivalChicago Jazz FestivalChicago Symphony OrchestraCornerstone FestivalDillo DayIllinois Shakespeare FestivalIllinois State Fair

Illinois' Poets Laureate
List of museums in IllinoisLollapaloozaLyric Opera of ChicagoMusicPitchfork Music Festival
Ravinia Festival
Taste of Chicago

Education: Higher educationSecondary education

Environment: Ecoregions of IllinoisGeography of IllinoisGeology of IllinoisProtected areas of Illinois

Government:

Constitution
EconomyPoliticsState Capitol

History: ChicagoIlliniwek

Illinois Central
Illinois-Wabash CompanyIllinois TerritoryAbraham LincolnBlack Hawk WarCahokia1871 Great Chicago Fire
Makataimeshekiakiak
Miami
Mississippian cultureNorthwest TerritoryPotawatomiRoute 66
Sauk

People:

Governors of Illinois
Mayors of Chicago
Longest Serving Mayor in IllinoisOrder of Lincoln Laureates

Sports: Chicago BanditsChicago BearsChicago BullsChicago Cubs

Chicago Fire
Chicago RushChicago SkyChicago White SoxChicago WolvesThe Fighting IlliniIllinois State RedbirdsNorthwestern WildcatsPeoria RivermenRockford IceHogs
Rockford Thunder
Southern Illinois Miners
Southern Illinois University Salukis
Chicago Yacht Club Race to MackinacChicago Marathon

Outline of Illinois

Subcategories

Category puzzle
Category puzzle
Select [►] to view subcategories

Related portals

WikiProjects

Things you can do


Here are some tasks awaiting attention:

Associated Wikimedia

The following Wikimedia Foundation sister projects provide more on this subject:

Discover Wikipedia using portals

Purge server cache