Illinois Bicentennial

McLean County and Central Illinois are gearing up for America 250 with a bunch of events, everything from a community drone show on July 2 to readings of the Declaration of Independence at Connie Link Amphitheater in Normal and in Downtown Bloomington. It's not the first national anniversary involving a big celebration. Let’s go back 50 years to hear what they did for the nation’s Bicentennial.

Prairie politicians didn't let challenges, like rules, get in their way, historians say.

Gov. Bruce Rauner and Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker will make a joint appearance at the state's Bicentennial celebration Dec. 3.Republican Rauner made the…

Illinois settlement patterns did a lot to shape the early politics of the state and remain a force today, according to Illinois Wesleyan University…

In many ways, the history of farming is about its future—how we went from hand tools and horses to self-driving tractors and $10,000-an-acre farmland.Don…

Illinois residents have picked "The Blues Brothers" as the top movie in state history, making it the first item on a list of Illinois' top 200 people,…

For all practical purposes Illinois embraced slavery at its founding in 1818, despite entering the Union as a non-slave state. For example, Illinois'…

Illinois residents are invited to help choose the 200 greatest people, place and things in state history as part of Illinois' bicentennial celebration.The…