What do you think of when you think about McDonald’s? Probably the golden arches, their logo, the Big Mac, but not anything specifically Illinois-related.

McDonald’s may be the most popular restaurant chain today, but back in the early-1950s, not many people outside of California knew what it was. That changed when Ray Kroc opened the first McDonald’s franchise in Des Plaines, Illinois, on April 15, 1955.

That’s right. Today is the 71st anniversary of Illinoisans being able to enjoy McDonald’s.

Before working with McDonald’s, Kroc had quite a few different occupations. His first job was with the Red Cross Ambulance Corps during WWI, but he never went overseas. After the war ended, he became a musician and then sold paper cups. And Kroc’s last job before McDonald’s, which led to him discovering the restaurant, was as the exclusive distributor of the Multimixer, a milkshake mixing machine.

Trying to sell more Multimixers, Kroc visited the McDonald’s restaurant in California. While there, he became enthralled with how it was run. Luckily for him, he found out that the McDonald brothers, who ran the restaurant, were looking for a nationwide franchising agent. So, once again, he switched careers.

The first McDonald’s that Kroc opened was in Des Plaines, and it had over $350 of sales on its first day. Opening his first restaurant in Illinois made sense for Kroc, who grew up in Oak Park and attended Lincoln School and Oak Park River Forest High School.

After opening his first restaurant, Kroc continued to grow the McDonald’s brand, which included buying out Dick and Mac McDonald, the brothers who started the restaurant, in 1961. By the time Kroc died in 1984, there were 7,500 McDonald’s restaurants around the globe. And McDonald’s now has over 35,000 worldwide locations in more than 100 countries.

But the restaurant’s Illinois connections do not end with Kroc. McDonald’s started its Hamburger University employee training program, where employees receive Bachelor of Hamburgerology degrees, at its Elk Grove Village restaurant in 1961. And its current global headquarters is in Oak Brook, keeping its corporate leaders associated with Illinois today as well.

So the next time you pass a McDonald’s (and it is kind of hard not to), you can think about Illinois’ place in the restaurant’s history.

Springfield, the capital city of Illinois, was founded on April 10, 1821!

The first European settlers began arriving in 1818 as the area became more prominent because of its proximity to the Sangamon River.

We’re honoring Women’s History Month by celebrating the birthday of one of Illinois’ U.S. Senators, Tammy Duckworth!

Ladda Tammy Duckworth, known to many as Tammy Duckworth, was born on March 12, 1968 in Bangkok, Thailand to Lamai Sompornpairin and Franklin Duckworth. Franklin, Tammy’s father, was a veteran of the United State Army and Marine Corps, serving in World War II and the Vietnam War. He worked in Southeast Asia after his service. After her family relocated to Hawaii, she graduated from McKinley High School and the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

On Feb. 3, 1809, the 10^th United States Congress passed legislation to officially establish the Illinois Territory, carved out from the western portion of the existing Indiana Territory. The decision was made after Congress received several petitions from residents in the area complaining of the difficulty of participating in territorial decision-making given their great distance from the territorial capitol in Corydon, and requesting a greater degree of autonomy. The new Illinois Territory included the boundaries of our modern state, as well as land that now makes up parts of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota.

Each November, Illinois joins the nation in honoring those who have served in the United States Armed Forces. From the state’s earliest days to the present, Illinois has been home to men and women whose courage and commitment have shaped both our nation’s history and the communities we call home.

Illinois has a proud military legacy; today, the state remains home to over 400,000 veterans. Across Illinois, we preserve the history of our veterans and ensure their stories live on through museums, memorials and community events that keep their service from being forgotten.

In Springfield, the Illinois State Military Museum offers visitors a chance to explore artifacts and personal stories spanning from the Revolutionary War to modern conflicts. Displays include equipment, uniforms, and letters from Illinois soldiers who served around the world. Just outside the city, the Camp Butler National Cemetery stands as a solemn reminder of those who gave their lives in service, with more than 25,000 veterans and their family members laid to rest.

Farther north, the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood provides a peaceful resting place for veterans of every generation. Established in 1999, it continues Illinois’ tradition of honoring those who served—a legacy that stretches back to President Lincoln himself, who established the national cemetery system during the Civil War.

Illinois honors the personal sacrifice of those who served in the US Armed Forces. With a long history of supporting veterans, it remains one of the best states in the nation for service members transitioning to civilian life. From career training and housing support to educational opportunities like the Illinois Veterans Grant (IVG) and expanded mental health services, communities across the state are helping veterans and their families build strong, fulfilling lives after their time in uniform.

This Veterans Day, as we reflect on the freedoms we enjoy, Illinois honors the courage, dedication, and sacrifice of its veterans. Their service reminds us that patriotism is not only something to remember once a year—it’s something we live every day through gratitude, service and community.