Illinois History

Support Illinois outdoor movie culture by voting for Harvest Moon and Skyview drive-ins in USA Today's 10 Best polls!

Most of us are familiar with at least some of the nicknames for Rockford. You've got The Forest City, Screw City, The Fastener Capital Of The World, Reaper City, Illinois' 2nd City, and maybe even Furniture City. But, beyond Rockford, how many of these Illinois spots can you figure out by their nicknames?

Uncover the secrets of Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, a hidden gem in Collinsville, Illinois, a Mississippian culture from 800 to 1350 AD.

If you're fascinated by abandoned buildings, you definitely need to plan a hike or bike on Illinois' Tunnel Hill State Trail that will take you through 5 different ghost towns!

Illinois is home to some of the oldest towns in the United States, each with its unique history and heritage. Here are 5 of those towns that still exist today.

You might have heard about the infamous St. Valentine's Day Massacre that took place in Chicago in 1929, but do you know what the site looks like today?

Rockford was first settled in the early 1830s by three individuals who had traveled from Galena. It was the midway point between Galena and Chicago.

Illinois may be known for a lot of things, but being home to an actual VOLCANO is usually not one of them.

Today we learned that Rockford used to be home to a zoo and a Central Park!

Anytime we ask a question like, "What things do you miss and wish would return in Illinois?", we get several people saying "Kiddieland Park".