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Interesting Questions, Facts and Information
- There are a total of 40 general entries. We are selecting 30 for display.
Special Topics
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 Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information
 Illinois
| The village of Kaskaskia has been of historic significance to both the Illinois Territory and the State of Illinois. Beginning as a French trading site in the early 1700s,it has seen both the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. It became the capital for the Illinois Territory and was also the first capitol of Illinois. What else is Kaskaskia also know for? | Historic Sites of Southern Illinois
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The only Illinois community west of the Mississippi. The village of Kaskaskia is accessable from the Missouri side of the Mississippi River. During the flood of 1881 the course of the river changed and left the town of Kaskaskia as an island.
| General John A. Logan is credited as being one of the founding fathers of Memorial Day. General Logan helped establish Memorial Day to honor those who
had lost their lives in the Civil War. At what cemetery was the first organized Memorial Day service held in Illinois? | Historic Sites of Southern Illinois
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Woodlawn. The first organized Memorial Day service in Illinois was at Woodlawn
Cemetery in 1866. As Commander in Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic,
Logan made May 30th the day for honoring the dead Union Soldiers. This site is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
| This town is known for the site of the crossing of the Ohio River during the
Trail of Tears. Also in this area is the site of the old Lusk Ferry. Lock and Dam #51 were also located here. Do you know this town? | Historic Sites of Southern Illinois
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Golconda. Golconda was the Ohio River crossing location for the Trail of Tears. Their
trek from the Ohio River to the Mississippi River closely followed Illinois Rt. 146. Lusk Ferry was one of the first river crossings to operate in this area. Upon the death of Mr. Lusk, the ferry continued to be in service and was operated by his wife Sarah Lusk. Golconda was previously known as Sarahsville.
| This town is home to Magnolia Manor, The Old Custom House, Fort Defiance and numerous other sites. It is bound on the east by the Ohio River and on the west by the Mississippi River. What town is this? | Historic Sites of Southern Illinois
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Cairo. Cairo is the southernmost town in Illinois, located at the point where the
two great rivers meet.
| Located on the banks of the Ohio River in Hardin County, this site has been home to outlaws, river pirates, counterfeiters, horse thieves and an assortment of many different undesireable characters. Today it is an Illinois State Park. What is its name? | Historic Sites of Southern Illinois
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Cave-in-Rock. Cave-in-Rock State Park is known for the cave that overlooks the banks of the Ohio River. River pirates used the site as their base of operations on the lower Ohio River.
| For many years John Hart Crenshaw was was an entrepreneur near Equality. His home built in the 1840s is known as Hickory Hill. It has been reported that the attic of this house is haunted. By what other name is this house known? | Historic Sites of Southern Illinois
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The Old Slave House. The Crenshaw home originally known as Hickory Hill is more commonly known
as the Old Slave House. Crenshaw was involved using slave labor in the production of salt. Although Illinois was not a slave state, the government
made provision that for labor to work the Salines, slaves could be leased
and brought into Illinois. Crenshaw is also associated with the illegal slave trade.
| This early industry was located near Equality in Gallatin County. The United States government leased this area for the production of this product. In 1818
upon statehood the government granted this area to the State of Illinois. The state continued the leases of this site. This area is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. What was produced there?
| Historic Sites of Southern Illinois
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Salt. The area west and southwest of Equality have been known for its salt springs.
These springs were know to the Indians and the early French in the area. When the United States government began to issue leases, this area became known as the United States Salines. Upon transfer to the State of Illinois the site was referred to as the Illinois Salines.
| The Shady Rest is located between Marion and Harrisburg on Old Rt. 13. It was opened in 1924 as a bootleg establishment, although it also offered gambling
and provided for many other vices. Locals knew this to be the hideout for Charlie Birger and his gang. Birger had competetion with bootleg liquor and gambling from another rival gang. Can you name this gang? | Historic Sites of Southern Illinois
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The Shelton Brothers. Charlie Birger was consider to be a local hero by many in Southern Illinois,
although his envolvement with criminal activities were widely known. Birger
was tried and convicted of the 1927 murder of Joe Adams. He was the last man
hanged in Illinois.
| For over 150 years this majestic structure has overlooked the Mississippi River from a bluff. Historical names associated with this include Abraham Lincoln and Dred Scott. This site is listed on the National Register of Historical Places. At one point in time it also served as the Alexander County Courthouse. Can you name this?
| Historic Sites of Southern Illinois
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Thebes Courthouse. It has been rumored that Abraham Lincoln was at the Thebes Courthouse as a
young lawyer. It has also been rumored that Dred Scott spent the night in
the dungeon of the courthouse. This grand structure has been closed to the
public for many years.
| Shawneetown Bank is located in Old Shawneetown on the banks of the Ohio River. Shawneetown was home to the first bank in the Illinois Territory. It opened in 1812, six years prior to statehood. Local tradition claims that the bank was
approached by this now famous city, then in its infancy, seeking money. The bank turned down this city. Which was it? | Historic Sites of Southern Illinois
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Chicago. Tradition holds that the City of Chicago approached the Shawneetown Bank in an
effort to secure funds. It was felt that Chicago was located too far away from Shawneetown and too far a distance from a major waterway to grow.
| George and Jacob Donner of the Donner Party were from what Illinois town?
| Illinois History
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Springfield. George and Jacob Donner were from the Springfield, IL area. Part of the
party was organized in that area.
| Chicago was named after the Indian word checagou. What is the meaning of checagou? | Illinois History
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Place of the wild onion or garlic. Checagou is the Indian name for the place of the wild onion or garlic. According to what references you read the name will vary between onion or
garlic. These plants grew in abundance in the area that is now known as
Chicago metropolitan area.
| Route 66 ran through the heartland of Illinois, connecting
Chicago with St. Louis. Can you name the Illinois segment of Route 66 was
called prior to being named Route 66? Then the last part of the question is
what Interstate follows the old Route 66 from Chicago to St. Louis?
| Illinois History
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Pontiac Trail / Interstate 55. The Illinois segment of Route 66 was previously known as Pontiac Trail.
Interstate 55 through Illinois follows Route 66.
| The children's building logs known as Lincoln Logs were first produced in
Chicago, Illinois. What is the name of the owner(s)of the manufacturing company? | Illinois History
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John Lloyd Wright. The J. L. Wright Manufacturing Company was the first to produce Lincoln Logs.
It is also interesting the John Lloyd Wright is the son of Frank Lloyd Wright.
| This great road beginning in Cumberland, Maryland in 1811 had extended to Vandalia, Illinois by the 1830's. Can you name this road? | Illinois History
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The National Road. The National Road was the first federal funded road project. Today U.S. Rt. 40
basically follows the route of the National Road from Vandalia, Illinois East.
| On a July morning in 1915 passengers were boarding this steamer for a picnic in Michigan City, Indiana. While docked near Clark Street on the Chicago River
she started listing. Several minutes later she was on her side. Over 800 died leaving her as being the worst single disaster in Chicago history. What is the name of this steamer? | Illinois History
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The Eastland. Employees of Western Electric were boarding the steamer for the company picnic
in Michigan City, Indiana. The Eastland had a history of being top-heavy and
listing on numerous occasions.
| George Rogers Clark and his band of Kentucky Long Knives left the abandoned
Fort Massac on their trek to Fort Kaskaskia, their mission being to take
the fort from the British. What happened when Clark arrived? | Illinois History
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The fort was taken without firing a shot. Clark had the element of surprise when he arrived at Fort Kaskaskia. The
Commander was still in bed and he was able to take the fort without use
of force.
| About 10 miles east of St. Louis near Collinsville are remnants of this
Mississippian city. Parts of the site include Woodhenge, Monks Mound and
the Central Plaza. This site has been designated as a World Heritage Site. Can
you name this?
| Illinois History
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Cahokia Mound State Historic Site. The Cahokia Mound State Historic Site is located in the American Bottom Lands,
an area that is supported by the Mississippi River, The Illinois River and
the Missouri River, making this area an ideal location for the Mississippian
culture to thrive. The mounds were name Cahokia after a local Indian tribe.
| What do the names Peoria, Kaskaskia, Tamaroa, Cahokia and Michigamea have in common? | Illinois History
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They are the names of Indian tribes that formed the Illini Confederation. These were the main tribes that constituted the Illini Confederation. There
were also smaller groups, but were not of the significance of the five major
tribes. These tribes had common cultures that spoke similar dialects
of the Algonquin language.
Began as a derogatory term designating Chicago as second to New York. In the United States, the term has long been a nickname for Chicago. A. J. Liebling coined the "Second City" phrase and applied it to Chicago to highlight his opinion of the city as being culturally second to New York. The nickname is used to indicate Chicago's second ranking in many areas as well as Chicago's ongoing intention to be number one. Chicago had been the second largest urban area in the US after New York City, before being overtaken by Los Angeles. Due to Chicago's population having been second to New York for many years, the Second City nickname is also associated with the population status of Chicago.
| The Great Chicago Fire in 1871 was devastating, and a great deal of the city burned to the ground. How many deaths were attributed to the fire? | Chicago and Illinois Trivia
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300. On October 8, 1871, the same day as the Chicago Fire, another devastating fire occurred in Peshtigo, Wisconsin and caused between 1,200 and 2,500 people to lose their lives. Even though an exact number of fatalities cannot be determined, this fire caused the most deaths by fire in United States history. The Chicago Fire caused a great deal of devastation to buildings and caused many people to become homeless, but the death rate in Peshtigo was far greater.
French version of the Miami-Illinois Indian word meaning "skunk weed" which grew along the Chicago River. The name Chicago is from the skunk weed that grew along the Chicago River as well as other areas in the Chicago area. It is a wild leek or onion and it is still found in Forest Preserve areas of northern Illinois.
Yes, the Columbian Exposition in 1893 and the Century of Progress in 1933. The World's Columbian Exposition, a World's Fair, was held in Chicago in 1893, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World. Chicago beat New York City, Washington, D.C. and St. Louis, Missouri, for the honor of hosting the fair. The fair had a profound effect on architecture, the arts, Chicago's self-image, and American industrial optimism. This fair was considered the most influential fair in history.
The Century of Progress, was held in Chicago between 1933 and 1934. Originally, the fair was scheduled only to run until November 12, 1933, but it was so successful that it was opened again to run from May 26 to October 31, 1934.
The first Major League Baseball All-Star Game was held at Comiskey Park (home of the Chicago White Sox) in conjunction with the fair.
| Chicago bid for the World's Fair, along with New York, St. Louis, and Washington D.C. because of the success of another World's Fair. Which one was it? | Chicago and Illinois Trivia
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The Exposition Universelle in Paris, France after the construction of the Eiffel Tower. The Exposition Universelle of 1889 was a World's Fair held in Paris, France from May 6 to October 31, 1889. It was held during the year of the 100th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, an event traditionally considered as the beginning of the French Revolution. It was highly successful, which prompted the United States to vie for a World's Fair to show that they were indeed a major country.
All of these (The term is used metaphorically to make out that Chicagoans were braggarts, Chicago was rebuilt on a grid system which resulted in man-made wind tunnels in high density areas, The "Chicago Tribune" claimed that Charles Dana dubbed it "Windy City" in an article in the "New York Sun" when the two cities were competing for the World's Fair). All of these are correct. Chicago is windy and has windy politicians. They competed with Cincinnati in the 1800s over both meat packing and baseball, with New York over the World's Fair, and various authors have used the term. Chicagoans, politicians and citizens alike, use the use the term "Windy City" as their city's nickname.
Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable. The first non-native permanent settler in Chicago was Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable, a Haitian of African and French descent, who settled on the Chicago River in the 1770s and married a local Potawatomi woman.
They reversed the flow of the Chicago River. Though not especially long, the Chicago River is notable for the 19th century engineering feats that directed its flow southwards, away from Lake Michigan, into which it previously emptied, and towards the Mississippi River basin. By building the Sanitary and Ship Canal connecting it to the Illinois River, the flow was reversed. The river is also noted for the local custom of "dyeing it green" on St. Patrick's Day. The dye that is used is not green, but orange.
Ronald Reagan. In 1860 Ulysses S. Grant, who was born in Ohio, was made an assistant in the leather shop owned by his father in Galena, Illinois. He rented a home there and in 1861 joined the Union Army. After the Civil War, the people of Galena presented him with a home.
On February 6, 1911, Ronald Wilson Reagan was born in Tampico, Illinois. He attended high school in nearby Dixon and then worked his way through Eureka College.
Abraham Lincoln was born in Hardin County, Kentucky in 1809. His family moved to Indiana when he was eight and then, as a young man, he moved to New Salem and then Springfield, Illinois.
Barack Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961. After working his way through college with the help of scholarships and student loans, President Obama moved to Chicago, where he lived until he was elected president.
Maxim. I don't read Maxim, but I do like the title. :)
| The four stars on Chicago's flag are symbolic of different events in the city's history. The second star is for The Great Chicago Fire. The third is for the World Columbian Exposition. The fourth is for the Century of Progress Exposition. The first star represents the construction of Chicago's first fort. Which fort was this? | Sweet Home Chicago - Some Lesser-Known Facts
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Fort Dearborn. Fort Dearborn was constructed in 1803, destroyed in the War of 1812, and rebuilt in 1816. It was partially destroyed by fire in 1857, and completely destroyed during the Great Chicago Fire. Fort Du Page is located west of Chicago. Fort de Checagou's existence has never been proven, but is rumored to have been somewhere in Chicagoland around 1685. Fort Nonsense was built in 1832 at Joliet, and was named for lack of access to a water supply, no provisions, and no armaments.
Decatur. The team started in 1919 as the Decatur Staleys, and is one of only two teams remaining from the National Football League's founding, the other being the Arizona Cardinals (originally from Chicago itself). After moving from Decatur, the Staleys changed names, becoming the Bears, or as we Chicagoans like to say, "Da Bears!"
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