Welcome to I Like Illinois

Celebrating the Route 66 Centennial

The iconic Route 66 turns 100 years old this year, and Illinois is celebrating with major events, festivals and more.

Established in 1926, Route 66, also known as the “Mother Road”, connects Chicago to Santa Monica, California, stretching 2,448 miles across nearly two-thirds of the country. The origins of Route 66 trace back to trails used by Native Americans, which later evolved into smaller roads that often paralleled railway lines.

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Illinois’ lakes and rivers

Illinois is bordered by 880 miles of rivers and has 87,110 miles of rivers and streams within its borders. The Mississippi River, Ohio River and Wabash River are the bordering rivers of the state. The Mississippi River forms the western border of Illinois in a 581 mile stretch of its course and, as such, is the longest river in the state.

The Ice Age had major impacts on Illinois and its rivers. Glaciers blocked and buried some rivers and created new ones. Some ancient rivers, such as the Teays, Cumberland, Paw Paw and Ticona, no longer exist. The Missouri River once flowed in much of what is now the Mississippi River bed but was blocked and filled during the Kansas glacier and diverted to a new channel. The Teays River was diverted south of the glacier and became the Ohio River.

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The only president with a patent: Abraham Lincoln

• Abraham Lincoln
• Patent
• President

If someone said that only one U.S. president has a patent and asked you to guess which one it was, who would you say? Thomas Jefferson? Theodore Roosevelt? No, the answer is Abraham Lincoln.

With all of Lincoln’s other accomplishments, it is understandable that his patent flies under the radar, especially because it was before he became president. But it is no less impressive.

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Old Capitol Art Fair

Last weekend was the Old Capitol Art Fair in Springfield Illinois! This free central Illinois event brings art-lovers and artists together at the Illinois Old State Capitol building. The fair featured amenities such as a Children’s Tent, food court and live music.

The art fair, founded in 1961, marked it’s 65^th year on May 16 and 17. The goal of the art fair was to bring Illinois and neighboring states’ artists together, educate the public, create a cultural event for and a civic art collection for the city of Springfield. According to the Old Capitol Art Fair website, the event is one of the most popular juried art fairs in the country. A juried art fair is one where art is selected by a panel of judges in a competition. The art fair’s awards go to best in show, different categories of art, merit and Children’s Tent awards. Each year the event brings more than 30,000 shoppers and viewers interested in all different forms of art. Original works run the gamut from jewelry and watercolors to woodworking, pottery and more. 

The Old State Capitol hosted the Illinois General Assembly from 1840 to 1876 and is currently in the midst of a comprehensive restoration effort.

You can find more upcoming events and information about the Old State Capitol .