Illinois and Lincoln's Bicentennial

[diddyriddick]

I've a better idea...Go somewhere else, and let the politicos know it. The only way they are going to see it our way is if they lose the tourist dollars. How much of an impact would the loss of even 1,000 tourists have on the local economy?

Gettysburg is nice, and they want your biz!

Just my thoughts....

[ole]

Last month we made a small trip to visit Springfield and, cleverly (we thought), to get to New Salem before the presenters went home after Labor Day. They were already gone. It was still nice as there were volunteers to talk to, but the blacksmiths, and candle-makers, and soap-makers, and weavers were not there.

Blago IS an idiot! For $3mm (to make up a shortfall in his spending habits), he has put a serious crimp the tourism dollar. New Salem, by itself, can't generate that kind of money, but unpaid volunteers can't winterize and take care of buildings built in the 1930s.

Do you want your kids and grandkids to see a village that grew around a mill in the 1830s? Go to Iowa.

ole

[30th_il]

A horseshoe is the name of a sandwich that is local to Springfield and the area. It's a heart-attack on a plate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseshoe_sandwich

[30th_il]

There is a little hope...



Here's a list of state historic sites and how their hours will be affected by the recent budget cuts.

* Lincoln’s New Salem, Petersburg: Will open seven days per week starting in spring 2009 using funds from the Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. The site is currently open five days per week, and received 432,176 visitors in 2007.

* Lincoln Tomb, Springfield: Will open seven days per week starting in spring 2009 using funds from the Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. The site is currently open seven days per week but will reduce operations to five days per week starting September 1 due to the layoff of seasonal workers. The Tomb had 339,073 visitors in 2007.

* Old State Capitol, Springfield: Will open seven days per week starting in spring 2009 using funds from the Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. The site is currently open five days per week, and had 109,254 visitors in 2007.

* Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices, Springfield: Will open seven days per week in spring 2009 using funds from the Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. The site is currently open on Saturdays only and had 37,774 visitors in 2007.

* Dana-Thomas House, Springfield: The site will close October 1 but will open on a limited basis for special events. It is currently open five days per week, and had 41,045 visitors in 2007.

* Vachel Lindsay Home, Springfield: Will be open on a limited schedule, with hours to be determined by staff at the Old State Capitol who also manage this site. The site is currently open on Saturdays only, and had 2,472 visitors in 2007.

* Cahokia Mounds, Collinsville: The site will remain open five days per week. It had 329,428 visitors in 2007.

* Lewis and Clark, Hartford: The site will remain open five days per week, and had 96,188 visitors in 2007.

* Ulysses S. Grant Home, Washburne House and Old Market House, Galena: The Grant Home will remain open five days per week using funds from the Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission and the Illinois Bureau of Tourism. The Washburne House and the Old Market House will remain open on their current schedules using volunteers: Washburne House, open Fridays only; Old Market House, open five days per week. These Galena sites had 113,328 visitors in 2007.

* Douglas Tomb, Chicago: The site will remain open five days per week. The sole employee lives on-site and is needed to provide security. The site had 13,456 visitors in 2007.

* Pullman, Chicago: The site will not be impacted. It will remain open by appointment only. The sole employee maintains the collections, works with volunteers and provides security.

* Black Hawk, Rock Island: The Hauberg Indian Museum will close October 1, but the natural areas and lodge will remain open five days per week. The site had 138,668 visitors in 2007.

* Lincoln Log Cabin, near Charleston: The site will close October 1 but will open on a limited basis for special events. It is currently open five days per week, and had 82,735 visitors in 2007.

* David Davis Mansion, Bloomington: The site will close October 1 but will open on a limited basis for special events. It is currently open five days per week, and had 49,468 visitors in 2007.

* Fort de Chartres, Prairie du Rocher: The site will close October 1 but will open on a limited basis for special events. It is currently open five days per week, and had 38,100 visitors in 2007.

* Vandalia Statehouse, Vandalia: The site will close October 1 but will open on a limited basis for special events. It is currently open five days per week, and had 31,690 visitors in 2007.

* Bishop Hill Museum, Colony Church and Bjorklund Hotel: These three buildings will close October 1 but will be open on a limited basis for special events. They are currently open five days per week, and had 19,551 visitors in 2007.

* Carl Sandburg, Galesburg: The site will close October 1 but will open on a limited basis for special events. It is currently open five days per week, and had 8,598 visitors in 2007.

* Cahokia Courthouse, Cahokia: The site will close October 1 but will open on a limited basis for special events. It is currently open five days per week, and had 8,414 visitors in 2007.

* Bryant Cottage, Bement: The site will close October 1 but will open on a limited basis for special events. The site is currently open four days per week, and had 5,176 visitors in 2007.

* Jubilee College, near Brimfield: The site will close October 1. It is currently open five days per week, and had 72,780 visitors in 2007.

* Apple River Fort, Elizabeth: The site will close October 1. It is currently open five days per week, and had 24,693 visitors in 2007.

* Fort Kaskaskia and Pierre Menard Home, Ellis Grove: These two sites, including the campground at Fort Kaskaskia, will close October 1. These sites are currently open five days per week, and had 23,086 visitors in 2007.

* Mt. Pulaski Courthouse, Mt. Pulaski, and Postville Courthouse, Lincoln, will remain open four days per week, and Metamora Courthouse, Metamora will remain open five afternoons per week. These sites are operated with volunteers.

The following sites operated by the Department of Natural Resources will close effective Nov. 1, 2008:

* Castle Rock State Park, Oregon
* Lowden State Park, Oregon
* Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park, Sheffield
* Illini State Park, Marseilles
* Channahon Parkway State Park, Channahon
* Gebhard Woods State Park, Morris
* Hidden Springs State Forrest, Strasburg
* Kickapoo State Park, Oakwood
* Moraine View State Park, Leroy
* Weldon Springs State Park, Clinton
* Wolf Creek State Park, Windsor

Total DNR Staff Reductions: 39

* 25 Site Technician II
* 4 Rangers
* 3 Site Assistant Supers
* 1 Office Associate (part time)
* 3 Office Coordinator (2 part time/1 FT)
* 1 Site Security Officer (IFPE union)
* 1 Natural Resource Coordinator
* 1 Natural Resource Specialist

[tackitt27]

I just want to add that I think Blago is a moran as well. What an idiot, but he has no regard or care for the preservation of historical sites. Heck, he isnt in Springfield at all. Spends most of his time in Chicago instead of the great city of S'field.

I have been to the Lincoln Museum twice. I took my students there once, then went back with my grandfather. I'd go again and again, what a great place.

[Scribe]

[quote=tackitt27;100017]I just want to add that I think Blago is a moran as well. What an idiot, but he has no regard or care for the preservation of historical sites. [quote]

Is preserving historic sites more important than funding education, health care for children, law enforcement, transportation, cutting into the state's budget deficit? I have a great regard for our past, but I am more concerned with our future.

[tackitt27]

I think I read once that in 2007 Blagojevech spend over 200,000 dollars in tax money for leisure flights from Springfield to Chicago. How bout putting that money towards the historical sites. Im not meaning take away from the future. Im a teacher, trust me he has taken plenty away from education already.

[Bonny Blue Flag]

Here in Texas there is a law that says the state must have a balanced budget every year. Period.

I wonder if Blago/Illinois has considered this.

Is Springfield in the districts that Obama serves as senator?

--BBF

[Bonny Blue Flag]

30th IL --

Great info on what's open when....thank you so much.

--BBF

[tackitt27]

Obama is a state senator to Washington DC, so he serves the whole state I guess you could say. Springfield is smack dab in the middle of the state. About 2 and 1/2 hours from Chicago would be my guess.