On December 3, 1818, Illinois became the 21st U.S. state. Early U.S. expansion began in the south part of the state and quickly spread northward, driving out the native residents. In 1832, some Native …

Dec 24, 2025 · Geographical and historical treatment of Illinois, including maps and a survey of its people, economy, and government. Its capital city is Springfield, and its largest city and most …

Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet, a missionary and a fur trader, become the first Europeans to explore Illinois. Following the course of the Mississippi River, they head south and encounter the …

Nov 9, 2009 · After the American Revolution, Illinois became a territory of the United States and achieved statehood in 1818. Located on Lake Michigan, and connected to the eastern ports via the …

Though independent of the State of Illinois and the Historical Library since 1997, the Illinois State Historical Society continues to actively promote the study of Illinois history.

Discover the history, stories and people of Illinois. Visit historic sites, meet American presidents and tour a prehistoric city.

Illinois is the leading export state in the nation for 1966. 1967 — JANUARY 26–27 — The largest single snowstorm in Chicago history dumps 23 inches on the city in 29 hours.

The collections document the history of Illinois and its inhabitants from the colonial era and earlier to the present day. Printed volumes include local histories, directories, atlases, contemporary works, and …

Timeline of important dates and major events in the history of Illinois. Illustrated list of events and people from our today in history archives.

Illinois is sometimes known as the “Prairie State” because of its rolling fertile plains. The Mississippi River forms the western border of the state, with Lake Michigan forming the northeastern border. The …