Did You Know These 7 Iconic Inventions Were Made In Illinois?

I'm not creative as much as I'd like to be. That being said, I can't believe people make inventions like it's nothing. I can't even think about what I'm doing in the next 20 minutes.

I remember when I was in high school and one my of classmates was talking about how her aunt was going on Shark Tank. Oddly enough, I saw the episode of her aunt and uncle selling their product a few weeks later on the show!

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That made me curious to find out what else has been invented in Illinois other than sock tabs. Sure enough, I found some iconic inventions Illinois peeps have made! Weird, never knew ANY of these were made in the good ol' state of Illinois.

#1: PINBALL MACHINE - CHICAGO

The inventor, Steve Kordeck, made pinball machines less expensive to produce and invented the two flippers to change the way someone really plays the game!

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#2: BARBED WIRE - DEKALB

Fun fact, by 1906 the inventor of barbed wire, Joseph Glidden, was named one of the richest men in America. He also founded the Barbed Fence Company in Dekalb!

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#3: FIRST CELL PHONE - SCHAUMBURG

"The original handset, DynaTAC 8000x, was nicknamed "the brick" or "the shoe" because it weighed 2.5 pounds and was 10 inches long."

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#4: ZIPPER - CHICAGO

I don't know what I'd do without zippers. Seriously, how am I supposed to hold in my belly? Whitcomb L. Judson had so many patents for different inventions, but the zipper is the most iconic of all!

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#5: SOLO CUP - CHICAGO

I'm actually ashamed to say I'm excited to see this invented in Illinois. It hits different knowing I supported an inventor who never knew they'd be the best part to all my high school parties. Beer pong anyone?

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#6: REMOTE CONTROL - CHICAGO

Thanks to Eugene Polley for keeping my dad occupied all the time. I don't know what my parents would do without a remote to turn their TV on. Apparently, the first wireless remote control looked like a ray gun from the future!

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#7: SPRAY PAINT - CHICAGO

In 1947, spray paint was accidentally made. Inventor, Edward Seymour, told his wife to fill an aerosol can with aluminum-colored paint and press the button... that's how spray paint was born!

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