It Happened in Illinois Remarkable Events That Shaped History

This book offers an inside look at over 25 interesting and unusual episodes that shaped the history of the Hoosier State. From the 1908 race riots in Springfield to Ron Blagojevich's impeachment in 2009, this book will cover a wide range of Illinois history.

Richard Moreno served as publisher of Nevada Magazine and has authored seven Nevada-related books. A former Director of Advertising and Public Relations for the Nevada Commission on Tourism, he was selected as a 2007 recipient of the Nevada Writers Hall of Fame Silver Pen award.

Acknowledgements Introduction 1. 1673 – Jolliet and Marquette Discover Illinois 2. 1778 – The Americans Take Over (Battle for Kaskaskia) 3. 1832 – The Blackhawk War 4. 1837 – The First Abolitionist Martyr: Elijah Lovejoy 5. 1844 – The Murder of Joseph Smith 6. 1846 – The Donner Party Departs from Springfield 7. 1858 – Debates that Shaped a Nation: Abraham Lincoln vs. Stephen A. Douglas 8. 1860 – The “Lady Elgin” Sinks 9. 1871 – The Great Chicago Fire 10. 1876 – The Plot to Steal Abraham Lincoln’s body 11. 1887 – The Chatsworth Train Disaster 12. 1894 – Pullman’s Strike 13. 1903 – The Iroquois Theater Fire 14. 1908 – Springfield’s Race Riots 15. 1909 – The Cherry Coal Mine Tragedy 16. 1917 – The East St. Louis Riot 17. 1922 – The Herrin Massacre 18. 1925 – The Tri-States Tornado Strike 19. 1926 – Williamson’s County’s Birger-Shelton Gang War 20. 1931 – Al Capone Goes to Prison 21. 1933 – Major League Baseball’s First All-Star Game 22. 1934 – Death of an Outlaw: John Dillinger Gunned Down 23. 1947 – The Centralia Mine Explosion 24. 1969 – The Chicago Seven Trial 25. 1979 – Chicago’s Improbable Disco Record Riot 26. 1979 – America’s Worst Air Disaster: The Crash of American Airlines Flight 191 27. 1982 – Chicago’s Tylenol Murder Mystery 28. 2008 – Death in the Classroom: Shootings at Northern Illinois University 29. 2009 – The Impeachment of Governor Rod Blagojovech