Did you know? Lincoln, 'Long Nine' moved capital to Springfield

• Springfield
• Lincoln,
• Abraham Lincoln
• Illinois History
• long nine
• vandalia
• Kaskaskia

Did you know?

It is a well-known fact that Springfield is the third town to serve as capital of Illinois after Kaskaskia and Vandalia both held the distinction during the state’s early days, but did you know Abraham Lincoln’s role in changing the location of Illinois’s capital city?

180 years ago this spring, State Representative Abraham Lincoln and the eight other legislators representing Sangamon County convinced their colleagues to support moving the Illinois state Capital from Vandalia to Springfield.

When the state was first settled, much of the population was concentrated in southern Illinois, so the territorial capital was in Kaskaskia. As the population shifted to the north over time, the capital was moved to Vandalia. The legislature specified that Vandalia was to remain the official center of state government for 20 years, as lawmakers knew that people would continue to settle in northern Illinois.

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Illinois artist of the month - Sherri Burritt

• Arts & Culture
• Artist of the month
• Women
• Paintings
• Oils
• Still Life
• Sherri Burritt

Sherri Burritt is an artist based in Morton outside of Peoria.

For three decades she created works mainly with watercolor until about six years ago when she started experimenting with oil paints, enjoying the flexibility of the medium.

Her works focus on impressionistic style still lives as she plays with light and texture to create not just a scene but an emotion and feeling.

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TBT: Construction on Wrigley Field was completed 103 years ago this week

103 years ago this week, construction was finished on Chicago’s Wrigley Field. It cost $250,000 to build the field, which opened as Weeghman Park. Back in 1914, the field was home to the upstart Federal League team, the Chicago Whales. At this time, the Cubs were playing at Chicago’s West Side Grounds.

Weeghman Park had a seating capacity of 14,000 with four acres of Kentucky bluegrass blanketing the outfield. Then in 1915, the Federal League disbanded. The Chicago Cubs took advantage of the opening and moved in to the new park, shortly thereafter naming it Cubs Park.

In the 1920s, the Cubs began renovating the field. During the 1922-1923 off season, wooden bleachers were installed and the capacity increased to 20,000. Then in 1926, the field’s name was changed from Cubs Park to Wrigley Field in honor of team owner William Wrigley, Jr.

It wasn’t until 1937 that some of Wrigley Field’s most famous features were added, including the 27- by 85-foot manually-operated scoreboard, the outfield bleachers and the signature ivy.

Several seating additions throughout the years have led to the current game-day capacity of more than 38,000. Although many renovations have taken place during Wrigley Field’s 103 year history, the field still looks largely the same as it did in 1914. Wrigley’s old-time charm is just one of the countless reasons why fans keep coming back year after year.

Southern Illinois offers prime viewing for upcoming solar eclipse

• southern illinois
• Eclipse
• Shawnee National Forest

On Aug. 21, the first total solar eclipse visible from the continental United States in nearly 40 years will occur, and Southern Illinois will offer a front row seat. The point of the eclipse’s greatest duration will occur over the Shawnee National Forest.

A solar eclipse happens when the moon blocks the sun. The August eclipse will cross the United States from Oregon to South Carolina and will be the first one in nearly 100 years to do so.

A total solar eclipse occurs much more infrequently than partial eclipses. While partial eclipses occur between two and five times each year, a total eclipse only occurs approximately once every year and a half, though often it is only visible over the ocean.

Communities across Southern Illinois are celebrating the eclipse in a variety of ways. Southern Illinois University Carbondale has partnered with NASA and the Adler Planetarium to offer a day of events and eclipse viewing in the football stadium. Carterville is hosting a Moonstock festival with Ozzy Osborne headlining. Additionally, there are 12 Illinois state parks within the portion of the state where the eclipse will be visible.