Did You Know

Once home to an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 Mississippian Native Americans, the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Collinsville is one of only eight United Nations cultural World Heritage sites in the United States.

The area once included over 100 mounds, with the largest, Monks Mound, at nearly 100 feet tall. The grounds also included a circle of wooden poles known as Woodhenge, used as a solar calendar, and a series of plazas used for public gatherings and festivities.

While many of the original mounds no longer stand, others have stood the test of time, including Monks Mound with stairs allowing visitors a view from the top. The Cahokian Interpretive Center gives visitors insight into what life was like for the Mississippian culture and includes many artifacts excavated from around the site.

Learn more:
Cahokia Mounds - State Historic Site
World Heritage List - Cahokia Mounds
Sacred Destinations

Chicago’s impressive skyline has garnered much attention ever since the iconic Home Insurance Building was constructed in 1885, becoming widely recognized as the world’s first skyscraper. Today, Chicago ranks second in North America behind only New York City in the number of skyscrapers, defined as any building that reaches 150 meters.

A recent study of residential high-rises also ranks Chicago at the top. Chicago is home to seven of the United States’ 12 tallest residential buildings – more than any other U.S. city. Several high-profile Chicago buildings, including the Trump Tower, John Hancock Center and the 900 North Michigan building were rated high on the list.

A recent building boom in and around the Loop will only increase these impressive numbers in the future.

Learn more:
How Chicago invented the skyscraper
Live, Up in the Sky! (Chicago Magazine)

Not only is Illinois ranked third in net electricity generation in the United States, but it is also a leader in the Midwest for crude oil refining capacity.

Illinois’ central location and energy-generating infrastructure makes us a vital hub for crude oil and natural gas moving throughout North America, with over a dozen interstate natural gas pipelines, two natural gas market centers, several petroleum and petroleum product pipelines and an oil port.

In 2013, Illinois ranked first in the nation in generating capacity and net electricity generation from nuclear power. The power generated from Illinois alone accounted for over 12 percent of the nation’s nuclear power.

Learn more:
U.S. Energy Information Administration
U.S. Department of Energy

Actor Gary Sinise was born 60 years ago this week in Blue Island.

When Sinise was just 18, he co-founded Chicago’s praised Steppenwolf Theater Company. The company continues to host outstanding plays and events to this day.

In 1992, Sinise directed, produced and starred in a remake of “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck. Two years later his career hit full throttle when he played Lieutenant Dan in the film “Forest Gump.”  In 1995 he starred in the movie “Apollo 13” and also starred in the television biopic “Truman,” for which he won a Golden Globe.

After acting on the big screen for a number of years, Sinise decided to return to the small screen, and in 2004 he starred in the crime series “CSI: New York.” Sinise is currently married and has 3 children.

Learn more:
Gary Sinise’s IMDb profile

Born in Texas in 1924, Willie T. Barrow exhibited her activist spirit at a very young age. At just 12 years old, she stood up to the unequal treatment she and other African-American students received. They were unable to ride the school bus with fellow white students.

Barrow found her true calling after moving to Chicago with her husband Clyde. She helped found Operation Breadbasket, an idea civil rights leaders in the South were using at the time to boycott discriminatory white-owned businesses and draw attention to the economic power held by African-Americans. She traveled with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to demonstrate in Selma, Alabama and is credited with helping bring Dr. King to Chicago. 

Barrow would go on to become the Executive Director of Operation PUSH, an organization dedicated to serving the poor and most vulnerable in Chicago.

Barrow was a trailblazer who not only led the fight for civil rights for African-Americans but also was an outspoken advocate for women’s rights and gay rights. She brought attention to the AIDS crisis at a time most public figures tried to shy away from the topic.

Known as the “Little Warrior” for her short stature but effective and outspoken tactics, Barrow is remembered by many for spending her life fighting for justice for all.

Learn more:  
President Obama on the passing of Reverend Willie T. Barrow
Willie T. Barrow – National Visionary Leadership Project
Chicago Tribune on Rev. Willie T. Barrow