Lecture: Why Illinois was Ground Zero for Innovation

Join author and journalist John Wasik at the Wilmette Historical Museum for a fascinating lecture about how and why Illinois became a hub of innovation.  He will talk about John Deere‘s invention of the self-scouring plow, the construction of the first steel-framed skyscraper in Chicago, and Nikola Tesla’s introduction of the alternating current system at the World’s Columbian Exposition.  Wasik will also invite us to contemplate what must be done to ensure our state can thrive in a global economy in which automation and digital technology are increasingly prevalent.  Wasik is the author of 17 books, including ""Lightning Strikes: Timeless Lessons in Creativity from the Life and Work of Nikola Tesla," and "Keynes's Way to Wealth.”  He is also a contributor to the New York Times and other national publications and has appeared on CNN, FOX, NBC, MSNBC, NPR, PBS and radio stations from Australia to Israel.