Illinois
The Prairie State
The flag has a white background, and much of
the Illinois state seal is pictured in the center.
There is a bald eagle perched on a rock holding
a red, white, and blue shield in its talons (the
stars are white on a blue background and the
stripes are red and white). The shield has 13
stripes and 13 stars, representing the original 13
colonies of the USA. The eagle is holding a
banner in its beak which reads "STATE,"
"SOVEREIGNTY," "NATIONAL," and "UNION."
The word sovereignty is upside down. The rock
has the dates 1818 and 1868 written on it; 1818
refers to the year Illinois became a state and
1868 refers to the date the state seal was
redesigned.
Cahokia Indian Mounds: near St. Louis
Chief Black Hawk
Lots of Farms
Lots of Water Transportation
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Lake Michigan
Mississippi River
Illinois River
Wabash River
Large Coal Producing State
Used to be almost all prairie
Southern Illinois:
Shawnee National Forest
Major City: Chicago (3rd in U.S.)
The three white stripes of the flag represent, from top to bottom, the North, West and South sides of the city.
The top blue stripe represents Lake Michigan and the North Branch of the Chicago River.
The bottom blue stripe represents the South Branch of the Chicago River and the Great Canal.
The first star represents
Fort Dearborn. It was
added to the flag in 1939.
Its six points symbolize
transportation, labor,
commerce, finance,
populousness, and
salubrity.
The second star stands for the
Great Chicago Fire of 1871, and is
original to the 1917 design of the
flag. Its six points represent the
virtues of religion, education,
aesthetics, justice, beneficence, and
civic pride.
The fourth star represents the
Century of Progress Exposition
(1833-1933), and was added
in 1933. Its points refer to
bragging rights: the United
States' 2nd Largest City
(became 3rd largest in 1990
census when passed by L.A.),
Chicago's Latin Motto (Urbs in
horto - City in a garden),
Chicago's "I Will" Motto, Great
Central Marketplace, Wonder
City, Convention City.
The third star symbolizes the World's Columbian
Exposition of 1893, and is original to the 1917
design. Its six points stand for political entities
Chicago has belonged to and the flags that have
flown over the area: France 1693, Great Britain
1763, Virginia 1778, the Northwest Territory
1798, Indiana Territory 1802, and Illinois 1818.
Chicago Museums
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Art Institute
Adler Planetarium
Shedd Aquarium
Field Museum
Museum of Science &
Industry
Chicago
Sports
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Bulls
White Sox
Bears
Blackhawks
Fire
Wolves
Bandits
Sky
Colleges
Festivals
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Blues Fest
Jazz Fest
Summerfest
Taste of Chicago
Ethnic and Neighborhood
events
Special Events
Other Chicago Things
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Navy Pier
Willis Tower
The Lakefront
Grant Park
Air and Water Show
The Chicago Fire
Chicago is the world’s “first modern city”
(Re-built after the Chicago fire with a new city plan, all new steel buildings,
better fire codes, and was an example for others on how to “build a city”)
Also: Rockford / The Quad Cities / Springfield
Illini means “man” or “warrior”
First:
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Ferris Wheel
McDonalds
Steel Plows
To ratify slavery
amendment
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1) In what year was Illinois admitted to the union?
a.1818
b. 1836 c. 1796
2) How many other states were admitted in that year?
a. Three b. None c. One
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3) What United States President was born in Tampico, Illinois?
a. Herbert Clark Hoover b. Ronald Wilson Reagan c. James Abram Garfield
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4) What is the motto of Illinois?
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a. It is perpetual
b. With God, all things are possible c. State sovereignty, national union
5) Whose design for the Illinois State flag was approved and signed by the Governor in 1970?
a. Mrs. Sanford Hutchison b. Paul Hadley c. Mrs. Dixie Cornell Gebhadt
6) Which of these is a nickname for Illinois?
a. The Hoosier State
b. The Prairie State
c. Midway, U.S.A.
7) What's another name for the Shawnee Hills?
a. Illinois Ozarks
b. Southwest Plateau c. The Knobs
8) What is the official state grass of Illinois?
a. Bluebunch Wheatgrass (Agropyron spicatum)
c. Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)
b. Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
9) What is the highest point in Illinois?
a. Driskill Mountain (535 feet)
b. Franklin Township (1,257 feet)
c. Charles Mound (1,235 feet)
10) What it the capital city of Illinios?
a. Springfield
b. Chicago
c. Rockford