3 Illinois Inventions No One Wants to Live Without

Illinois has racked up many achievements in the history books since it officially became a state in 1818, and many of inventions created in the state are ones the world could not live without.

Important Moments in Illinois History

Illinois tends to have a tarnished image in the eyes of many Americans, both in this state and outside of it, but I would like to point out that many amazing things happen here too.

Here are a few of the cool things Illinois is most-well known for (besides our high taxes and history of crooked politicians);

• Illinois was the first state to ratify the 13th Amendment that abolished slavery.
• The world's first skyscraper was built in Chicago.
• The first McDonald's franchise opened in Des Plaines, Illinois in 1955.
• The Ferris Wheel was invented in Illinois and debuted for the first time at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago. (and it held 2,000 people!)

I'm assuming many people also know that the zipper, red Solo cups, brownies, and TV remotes were all invented by clever Illinoisans, but what about these three things that I for one, would be unable to live without.

3 Illinois Inventions People Can't Live Without

Only In Your State recently highlighted 10 amazing things that were invented in Illinois, but these three are the ones I'm thinking a lot of us are the most thankful for.

Let's start with the most popular invention...

1. The cell phone

While the technology for creating a mobile phone has been around since 1908 and was patented in Kentucky, BUT the first handheld mobile phone was developed by a man named Martin Cooper from Schaumburg, Illinois in 1973.

2. The vacuum cleaner

I'm sure many people would say that vacuuming is one of their least favorite household chores, but it sure is better than sweeping!  Ives W. McGaffey of Chicago received the first American patent for a suction-type vacuum, (which he created in his basement) in 1869.

3.The dishwasher 

The one household chore I hate just as much as cleaning toilets is hand-washing dishes, so I'm super thankful for a woman named Josephine Cochrane who invented the first hand-powered dishwasher in her backyard shed in Shelbyville, Illinois in 1885!

Ready for more fun facts you might not know about Illinois? Check these out...