Illinois

Timeline

1673—Louis Jolliet and Father Marquette arrive in Illinois

1699—Cahokia is founded, the oldest town in Illinois

1717—Illinois becomes part of French Louisiana

1763—England receives Illinois at the end of the French and Indian War

1778—George Rogers Clark captures Kaskaskia from the British

1787—Illinois becomes part of the Indiana Territory

1804—Lewis and Clark expedition starts near Wood River

1809—Illinois Territory is created

1818—Illinois becomes the 21st state

1848—The Illinois & Michigan Canal completed

1863—Emancipation Proclamation

1871—Fire consumes much of Chicago

1893—Chicago World’s Fair

1900—Completion of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal

1959—The St. Lawrence Seaway opens

1992—Carol Moseley Braun becomes the first black woman in the Senate

1998—The Chicago bulls win their sixth NBA championship