Illinois: From Prehistoric Party Animals to Baseball Bats (and a Few Things in Between)
Buckle up, history lovers (and those who just enjoy a good yarn), because Illinois has a story wilder than a raccoon rummaging through your garbage cans at 3 am. We're talking ancient cities that make Vegas look quaint, mob hits that would make Scarface blush, and enough presidential connections to make your head spin.
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| What Historical Events Happened In Illinois |
So, what's the dirt on Illinois' past?
Pre-History Party Time: Let's start way back when, shall we? Cahokia, a prehistoric metropolis near modern-day St. Louis, was throwing epic bashes around 1050 AD. We're talking a city with a population bigger than London at the time – and way better mud wrestling (probably).
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French Fur Frenzy: Fast forward a few centuries, and the French waltz in, allured by the promise of riches in the fur trade. Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet become the first Europeans to yell, "Dibs on this fur empire!" while paddling down the Mississippi River.
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Land of Opportunity (with some kinks): Illinois then became a bit of a political hot potato, bouncing between the French, British, and eventually, the newly minted United States. The Black Hawk War threw a wrench into things in the 1830s, with Chief Black Hawk none too pleased about folks settling on his tribe's land.
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Rise of Chicago: The Windy City Wasn't Always So Windy (But Always Ambitious): Meanwhile, up north, a little settlement called Chicago was transforming from a smelly swamp to a bustling metropolis. The city boomed thanks to its prime location on the Great Lakes, becoming a major transportation hub. Of course, with great growth comes great...problems. The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 proved that even a city with big dreams can't outrun a rogue cow kicking over a lantern (allegedly).
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The Land of Lincoln (and Mobsters, and Baseball): Abraham Lincoln, America's favorite top-hatted vampire hunter (okay, maybe not that last part), honed his legal skills in Illinois. The state also became a haven for infamous mobsters like Al Capone, who apparently liked his speakeasies with a side of deep-dish pizza (unverified, but it sounds good). And let's not forget baseball! The Chicago Cubs finally winning the World Series in 2016 after a 108-year drought is a story for the history books (and a testament to the power of never giving up, even when your team seems cursed by a billy goat).
So yeah, Illinois: More than Just Cornfields (But We Love Those Too)
From ancient metropolises to legendary gangsters, Illinois' past is anything but boring. Sure, the state is famous for its cornfields, but there's a whole lot more to this Midwestern gem than meets the eye.
How to:
Unearth the secrets of Cahokia?* Visit the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site and marvel at the ingenuity of these ancient builders.Brush up on your Lincoln knowledge?* Explore the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield.Live your best gangster fantasy (safely, of course)?* Take a Chicago mob tour and see the sites where history's most notorious outlaws once roamed.
Catch a Cubs game (and maybe even snag a foul ball)?* Head to Wrigley Field and cheer on the (no longer) lovable losers.Find the best deep-dish pizza in Illinois?* That, my friend, is a lifelong quest – and a delicious one at that.
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