7 Quirky Facts About Illinois That Sound Made Up, But Are 100% Accurate

Casey, Illinois has less than 3,000 residents, but it's home to a dozen huge attractions that have all been certified by the Guinness Book of World Records. Supersized objects include a massive rocking chair, a mailbox as big as a building (that you can actually send mail from!), a 56-foot wind chime, and the world's largest golf tee and driver. In addition to its record-holding objects, it also has some everyday things that are just plain huge — like a gigantic pencil that's displayed in town. A popular spot for tourists in the town is the giant birdcage, which you can enter for a photo, or the inside of the mailbox, which gives great views of the city and the other attractions.

An outdated technology for decades, 8-track tapes had their heyday from the 1960s to the 1980s and are pretty much historical relics at this point. But that only fueled Mr. Bob "Tracker Bob" Hiemenez to hunt down these artifacts with even more determination. In fact, Hiemenez is the World Record-holder for possessing the most 8-track players in the known universe! He has amassed an impressive 633 players and a whopping 80,025 tapes (or more).

You may not think of Illinois much when it comes to the Civil War, but being the home state of presidents Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant, there are actually some pretty interesting connections. One such fact is that Illinois was the first state to abolish slavery in 1865. Prior to the Civil War, Illinois had created a law targeting Black citizens which made it challenging for them to live in (or move into) the state. Legislators from the state later changed that law and were the first to ratify the U.S. Constitution's 13th Amendment, which effectively repealed slavery nationwide.

America's favorite snack treat was invented just outside Chicago by James Dewar, a resident of River Forest and Oak Park for over 50 years. Dewar worked at the Continental Baking Company in River Forest when he was struck with the genius idea of stuffing sweet cake with a creamy white filling. Before his passing in 1985, Dewar said he would regularly enjoy three Twinkies with a glass of milk before bed. The baking company he worked for loved the idea and later became the Hostess Cake Company.

Try telling this one to a crow and see what he does. Will he abide by the 300-foot rule, or is a defiant 10 ft. from your window his preference? Three hundred feet is only 60 feet less than a football field, so for your rooster to follow the law, you would need a pretty big yard.

Do you think making a funny face at dogs is all fun and games? That kind of action could get you in handcuffs, buddy. In Normal, it's against the law to make a face at a dog, regardless if it's your own four-legged friend. What kind of faces qualify? It's hard to say, so it's best to just keep it professional.