Illinois History

Chicago has more movable bridges than any other city in North America, and the design behind all 37 of them was born right there in the city.

Illinois gave the world the dishwasher, the skyscraper, the zipper, and the first cell phone. Not bad for one state.

Wisconsin makes some seriously unexpected things — and a few of those factories will actually let you walk right through and watch it happen.

Chicago's lakefront has a pretty unusual feature — and once you know the story behind it, you'll never look at those concrete steps the same way again.

From candy to construction equipment, Illinois factories are opening their doors this summer. It’s a chance to see how our favorite things are made!

Illinois isn’t just about deep dish pizza and blues; it’s also the birthplace of some pretty remarkable inventions that shaped everyday life.

A 300-year-old church in Cahokia, Illinois, ties to Lewis and Clark and remains active today with tours, weddings, and weekly Latin Mass.

Imagine uncovering a piece of history while inspecting a distillery! Workers at Thornton Distilling Co. did just that with a vintage pistol from the Roaring Twenties.

Illinois invented the brownie in 1893, and today bakeries across the state still perfect the classic dessert with rich flavors and creative twists

Did you know the world’s oldest Dairy Queen is in Illinois? The historic Kankakee DQ has been serving soft-serve since 1947, with roots tied to Joliet.