May 2021--Can I be brutally honest here?
Illinois has a bad reputation and it has for some time. From a terrible credit rating and decades of corruption to high taxes and being home to some of the most violent neighborhoods in the country. Can’t argue this. Just tell someone you’re from Illinois—more specifically the Chicago area—and you can see the change in their facial expression. And it's not a smile you're seeing.
But all that being said, there are a lot of good things about Illinois. We just don’t hear much about them. So, here goes. (No surprise this starts with food.)
The first McDonald’s was built in Des Plaines in 1955
The first Cooper's Hawk Winery and Restaurants opened the doors in 2005 in Orland Park. Since then, 31 additional locations have opened in nine other states: Florida, Arizona, Missouri, Indiana, Michigan, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin. (Thanks to Pat Gira for reminding me of something that pretty much started in my backyard!)
Twinkies were invented in 1930. (Seems that it’s either Schiller Park or River Forest—depends on which website you’re visiting.)
Dairy Queen opened its first franchise in Joliet in 1940.
The town of Morton is the largest producer of pumpkins in the country, growing more than 85 percent of the nation’s pumpkins. This is why the state pie is pumpkin.
Deep-dish pizza was invented in Chicago. (Take that, New York!)
Portillo’s started in Illinois—no where else can you get the absolute best chocolate cake, hot dog, roast beef or chopped salad. And all under one roof.
The ice cream sundae started in Evanston.
There are more than 300 farms that grow popcorn, making Illinois one of the largest popcorn producers. Hence why the state snack is popcorn, right? And probably why the state’s vegetable is corn.
Illinois is home to companies that produce sweet treats like Tootsie Rolls, Sara Lee, Wrigley’s gum, Eli’s Cheesecake, Brach’s candies, Mrs. Fischer’s, Dove Ice Cream bars—and a whole bunch more.
Freaky fast, freaky fresh Jimmy John's was founded in 1983 in a garage in Charleston. Being so close to Western Illinois University was a boon for this newbie business as they delivered a lot of sandwiches to the dorms. Today, headquartered in Champaign, there are more than 2,700 locations in all but seven states. (Thank you, Daniel Helms!)
Illinois also is home to a lot of celebrities who either were born here or moved here when they were young and then raised in the Land of Lincoln.
How about the fact that four United States presidents have strong ties to Illinois: Abraham Lincoln (born in Kentucky but raised in Illinois), Ulysses S. Grant (spent quite a few years in Galena with his family), Ronald Reagan (born in Tampico) and Barack Obama (born in Hawaii, lived in several locations around the country and world, settled in Chicago where he got married and raised his daughters.)
In addition to the motion picture and television industry using various cities in Illinois to film movies (“Home Alone” comes to mind) and television shows, a great number of celebrities were born in Illinois, like actors and actresses Gillian Anderson (Chicago), Jennie Garth (Urbana), Harrison Ford (Chicago), Charlton Heston (Evanston), Rock Hudson (Winnetka), Bill Murray (Wilmette), Bob Newhart (Chicago) and McLean Stevenson (Bloomington). Also, author Ray Bradbury (Waukegan), model Cindy Crawford (DeKalb), musician Miles Davies (Alton), film animator and producer Walt Disney (Chicago), composer Quincy Jones (Chicago), comedian and actor Richard Pryor (Peoria) and playwright Melvin Van Peebles.
We’ve also got several country musicians who are from the Prairie State, like Brett Eldredge, born in Paris; Gretchen Wilson, born in Pocahontas; Alison Krauss, born in Decatur; Suzy Bogguss, of Aldeo and David Lee Murphy, from Herrin. I’m wondering if this is why in 1990 Illinois designated the Square Dance the state's official dance. Hmmmm.
Can’t leave out sport legends Michael Jordan, Walter Payton, Mike Ditka and Ernie Banks, and the list goes on. They may not have been born in Illinois, but they sure did their part to make other states envious of our championships.
When you’re not courtside, check out what's roadside. Down in southern Illinois there's a little town called Casey. You’ll find the world’s largest rocking chair, golf tee, wind chime, pitchfork, barbershop pole and the world’s largest mailbox. I’d say these are definitely social media worthy, right?
Just about two hours to the southwest is Collinsville, home to the world’s largest catsup bottle, which is actually a water tower and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Now who doesn't want a selfie with an overgrown bottle of catsup? Or do you say ketchup? (Either way, it does not belong on a Chicago hotdog.)
Also in southern Illinois is the world’s second largest cross. Located at Highways 57 and 70, it was the world’s largest for about 17 years until a taller cross was erected in Missouri in 2018. And in the little town of Dover, situated about an hour and a half southwest of Chicago, is an auto repair shop with several old cars outside painted to look like the vehicles used in Disney’s “Cars” movie. Definitely worth a trip with the kids or grandkids!
Coffee anyone? If you’re heading west on I-80 you can’t help but notice a large coffee pot—actually called the world’s largest pot of coffee—just west of I-39 in Peru at Sapp Bros Truck Stop. And don’t forget if you’re up in the northwest suburb of Niles to check out the replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
The town of Elizabeth, tucked in the far northwest corner of the state, boasts a large replica of a shark displayed outside of a restaurant on US-20. The restaurant used to be called Sharks. Now it’s Jack’s Bar and Grill. Still has the shark out there—although it’s missing its teeth. In East Peoria you can enjoy Twistee Treats custard served from a building shaped like an ice cream cone.
There’s also some firsts in the state. Illinois was the first state to ratify the 13th amendment of the Constitution abolishing slavery; and the first skyscraper, known as the Home Insurance Building, was built in Chicago. Plus, it has the first—and only—river in the world that flows backwards. It was done so by man-made canals and to this day is still considered an engineering marvel.
Inventions that were hatched, designed and/or created in Illinois include the cell phone, the zipper (first called a “clasp locker,”) the pinball machine, barbed wire and the mechanical dishwasher--to name a few. Plus, Ed Seymour, of Sycamore, is the inventor of aerosol spray paint. (Another nod to Daniel Helms for the insight!)
Other items worth noting include being home to the world’s tallest man: Robert Pershing Wadlow, who was 8’ 11" weighing 491 pounds and wearing a size 37 shoe; doling out the third highest number of personalized license plates in the country and producing more nuclear energy than any other state in the U.S. Plus, Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago is one of only three major zoos you can visit for free.
Almost 80 percent of Illinois is farmland –and if you guessed a lot of that land produces corn and pumpkins, I’d say you guessed right. Plus, the state boasts 26 miles of salt-free beachfront. Did you know the historic Route 66 actually starts in Illinois? Sure does, and it runs for 301 miles in the state.
And, last but not at all least, you’re able to read this electronically because of Marc Andreessen, a University of Illinois student, who invented the web browser, as we know it today.
So there you have it--lots of fun, cool and good things that define Illinois.
Reason enough to stay? Maybe. Maybe not. But surely, reason enough to be proud.
Take it one day at a time…
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