Have you ever enjoyed a sour Lemonhead or a hot Atomic Fireball as a sweet treat? Both of those candies and more are a result of Illinois innovation!

Illinois has been the source of several sweet inventions throughout the state, while also being home to production centers for some of the largest, most iconic candy producers in the world.

Did you know the first blood bank in the nation was opened at Cook County hospital in 1937? During World War I soldiers who needed certain blood types had difficulty receiving the right kind of care. A Chicago physician, Bernard Fantus, came with up a way to preserve blood and store it for longer periods of time so patients to access blood without having to for a donor.

The new blood bank opened on March 15, 1937 in Cook County Hospital. The initial opening cost was $1,500 and facilitated 1,354 transfusions in its first year. Previously, a patient would have to find a suitable donor on short notice. This method would create complications as there were matching errors and errors in preparation.   

Since the opening of the blood bank, millions have been saved by the readily available blood. According to Cook County Health, nearly 21 million blood components are transfused a year. This medical innovation is one Illinois’ many contributions to growth and development in our country.

This past week, Chicago’s lakefront welcomed bikers from all over the country to the annual “Bike the Drive” event, giving cyclists of all skill-levels and ages the chance to hit the road on a 30-mile loop normally designated for cars only.

On August 7-9, Le Claire, Iowa and Port Byron, Illinois hosted the 38^th Annual Tug Fest. The “tug” refers to a tug of war game between Illinois and Iowa with a 2,700-foot long rope that stretches across the Mississippi River. This year, Illinois won all eleven rounds of tugging to continue their win streak to over a decade.