Illinois State Historical Society

On this day in 1924, NBA All-Star George Mikan was born in Joliet.

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A retirement party for Bill Furry as our executive director was held on Sunday, June 14, at 3 Pines in Petersburg!

All photos by Kimberly L. Jones unless otherwise indicated.

On This Day in 1887, the Lincoln Home was deeded to the State of Illinois by Robert Lincoln for the cost of $1.

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On this day in 1949, Philadelphia Phillies baseball player and former Chicago Cub Eddie Waitkus was rushed into surgery after being shot by an obsessed fan in Chicago.

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June 14, 1777, was the first adoption of the Stars and Stripes! The U.S. flag was created when the Second Continental Congress passed the First Flag Resolution. Happy birthday to the flag!

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/13/us/abraham-lincoln-witness-tree-destroyed-storm.html

‘Witness’ Tree Outside Abraham Lincoln’s Former Home Irreparably Damaged Storms damaged the American linden tree, which was alive when Lincoln lived at the home in Springfield, Ill. He left it in 1861 for the White House.

The Rondout Train Robbery of June 12, 1924, remains the largest train heist in U.S. history. The famous Newton Gang, aided by a corrupt postal inspector, stopped a Chicago-bound mail train outside Rondout, Illinois, and escaped with over $2 million in cash, jewelry, and securities in just 30 minutes.

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On June 9, ISHS Book of the Year co-winner Stacy Lynn was presented with her award by Dr. Robert Sampson, board secretary, and Mark W. Sorensen, awards committee chair, in Charleston. She was unable to attend the Annual Awards event in April.

Photo by Dr. David Joens, interm executive director.

On this day in 1864, Jacksonville native General Benjamin Grierson led the US Cavalry troops, backed by numerous Illinois Infantry regiments, in the Battle of Brice’s Cross Roads in Mississippi.

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