A Mob, a Jail, and a Martyr: Joseph Smith's Last Day
On June 27, 1844, a mob stormed the jail in Carthage, Illinois, and murdered Joseph Smith — the first American presidential candidate ever assassinated — and his brother Hyrum.
Tagged: illinois
Three Hours, Three States: America's Deadliest Tornado
On March 18, 1925, a monster tornado cut a 219-mile scar through Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, killing 695 people — still the deadliest tornado in U.S. history.
The Prairie State's Birthday: Illinois Joins the Union
On December 3, 1818, President James Monroe signed the resolution admitting Illinois as the 21st state of the Union.