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 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 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 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 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 Art Institute Adler Planetarium Shedd Aquarium Field Museum Museum of Science & Industry

Chicago Sports Bulls White Sox Bears Blackhawks Fire Wolves Bandits Sky Colleges

Festivals Blues Fest Jazz Fest Summerfest Taste of Chicago Ethnic and Neighborhood events Special Events

Other Chicago Things 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: Ferris Wheel McDonalds Steel Plows To ratify slavery amendment

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  3) What United States President was born in Tampico, Illinois?  a. Herbert Clark Hoover b. Ronald Wilson Reagan c. James Abram Garfield  4) What is the motto of Illinois?  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) b. Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) c. Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)  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