On Feb. 1, 1865, Illinois became the first state to ratify the 13th Amendment of the Constitution, which officially ended slavery and involuntary servitude. Ratifying the 13th Amendment was one of President Lincoln’s top priorities.

Lyman Trumbull, a U.S. senator from Alton, co-authored the amendment that passed Congress and was sent to the states for ratification on Jan. 31, 1865.

Illinois would begin going back to the future in 1952, when Robert Zemeckis was born in Chicago. He has since become known as a very prolific film writer and director. Collectively, his movies have made over $4 billion at the global box office.

Today is former First Lady Michelle Obama’s birthday. She was born Michelle Robinson on January 17, 1964 in Chicago and grew up in a bungalow in the city’s Southside. As a child, she enjoyed reading and playing games with family members, including her older brother, Craig. The two were so close they were frequently confused for twins.

Did you know? Bagels have a long history that travels from the Jewish families of Poland in the 1600s to today’s breakfast menu.

Bagels made their way to the U.S. in the 1800s when a large Polish-Jewish population immigrated to America. The famous breakfast food thrived in New York City immediately, but it wasn’t until the mid-20th century that bagels became a favorite nationwide.

Ice cream sundaes are a staple of the American dessert diet. What you may not know, is that they have been around for 124 years. Strangely, their origin is somewhat of a mystery. However, their birthplace can be narrowed down to three states: New York, Wisconsin, or Illinois.