I am very happy and excited to be the Illinois stop! It’s the state that I live in and I have some awesome facts to share about Illinois!
- The name “Illinois” comes from a Native American word meaning “tribe of superior men”
- 21st state to enter the union in 1818
- Slogan: “Land of Lincoln”
- The world’s first skyscraper was built in Chicago in 1885
- Home of the Chicago Blackhawks who just won the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the the 5th time! (1934, 1938, 1961, 2010, 2013)
- Metropolis (home of Superman) is really in southern Illinois
- The home of President Ulysses S. Grant
- Chicago is the home to the Chicago Water Tower and Pumping Station, which are the only buildings that survived the Great Chicago Fire
- Comedy showcase “Second City” was founded in 1959
- The Chicago River is dyed green on St. Patrick’s Day
- State motto: “State Sovereignty, National Union”
- State animal: White-tailed deer
- State bird: Cardinal
- State fruit: Goldrush apple
- State flower: Violet
- The Chicago Public Library is the world’s largest public library
Authors from Illinois:
Audrey Niffenegger, Chicago
Sara Paretsky, Chicago
Kathy Reichs, Chicago
Ray Bradbury, Waukegan
Ernest Hemingway, Oak Park
Veronica Roth
Michael Chrichton
Now… for the giveaway!!
1 winner will win ANY of Veronica Roth’s books (your choice of which book in her Divergent series)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

I have been to Chicago and loved it. I had the time of my life there and I was only there about 6 hours! I was stopping through on the train! I am hosting Utah if you want to check it out.
Angie
Angela's Anxious Life
I love Chicago so much! But I guess I am a little biased. haha. Thanks for stopping by!
xo
I'm from Chicago, so I gotta love that Blackhawks fact! Thanks for the Illinois love!
I think it's really cool that the first skyscraper was built in Illinois! That is so awesome. 😀 Thanks for the great giveaway!
That you actually dye the river Green, that sounds like your St.Paddy's day must always be a party. 🙂
That the Chicago River is dyed green on St. Patrick's Day! I'd love to see that!
I don't know why, but I liked the Slogan: "Land of Lincoln" 😀
That the Chicago Public Library is the world's largest public library.
that they have the world's largest public library. if it wasn't so cold there in the winter I would live there when mom retires. 🙂
tammy ramey
trvlagnt1t@yahoo.com