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Illinois Historical 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 Northwest Territory
1804—Lewis and Clark expedition starts near Wood River
1809—Illinois Territory is created
1818—Illinois becomes the 21st state
1830—Abraham Lincoln moves to Illinois
1837—Chicago incorporated as a city
1848—The Illinois & Michigan Canal completed
1853—First Illinois State Fair is held
1861—Abraham Lincoln inaugurated as the 16th President of the United States
1863—Emancipation Proclamation
1871—Fire consumes much of Chicago
1888—Present-day State Capitol built
1893—Chicago World's Fair
1900—Completion of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal
1908—Chicago Cubs win their second World Series
1958—Illinois tollway opens
1959—The St. Lawrence Seaway opens
1970—New state constitution adopted
1986—Chicago Bears win Super Bowl XX
1992—Carol Moseley Braun becomes the first black woman in the Senate
1998—The Chicago bulls win their sixth NBA championship
2001—Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is dedicated
2005—Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum opens
2005—Chicago White Sox win their third World Series

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