What is National Illinois Day?
Starting the week of Independence Day and ending with Hawaii. We feature a small portion of each states' past, foods, and the people who make up the state. Several states have their own state celebrations. There's so much more to explore that we can't help but celebrate our beautiful country even more.
Illinois' distinct political, industrial, agricultural, and population densities, as the 21st state to join the United States, make an interesting comparison to other states.
When farmers began to settle on the Illinois prairie, they discovered the heavy soil was impossible to sow. With the invention of the steel plow that cut sod more effectively than previous methods, a Vermont blacksmith made the job simpler. John Deere plow was born in John Deere.
As settlers spread throughout the state, farmers in the rich prairies grew with railroads and shipping lines as settlers expanded. Chicago's closeness to Lake Michigan has made it a major hub for transportation of commodities around the country.
More efficient public highways became a national priority after the introduction of the combustion engine. The Chicago to Los Angeles ribbon, Route 66, will be the iconic ribbon on the Chicago to Los Angeles. Officially established in 1926, portions of the route were built from already existing roads.
