Illinois and Lincoln's Bicentennial

[30th_il]

Illinois, "Land of Lincoln". What a joke.
From the Lincoln Advocate:

"3 million dollars. Compared to the current 2 billion dollar deficit in the Illinois state budget, 3 million is merely a drop in the bucket--but 3 million dollars means everything to the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

The IHPA was officially formed by Illinois law in 1985, but its origins date back to the Illinois State Historical Library that was created in 1889. The mission of IHPA has been to restore, preserve, and protect Illinois' numerous historical resources--a noble mission, but one that requires funding.

Governor Rod Blagojevich recently cut 3 million dollars from the IHPA budget, and as a result, the organization has been forced to virtually shut down. Many of Illinois' historic sites relate to President Abraham Lincoln, and with the upcoming Lincoln bicentennial celebrations in 2009, Illinois stood to make billions of dollars in tourism revenue. But, due to the IHPA budget cuts, most of those sites can no longer remain open, and most IHPA employees have lost their jobs. Who will take care of the sites? Who will take care of the artifacts? No one, unless funding to the agency is restored.

With the recent funding cuts, the following sites have already been closed, and more closures are sure to come: Dana-Thomas House, Hauberg Indian Museum at Blackhawk State Historic Site, Lincoln Log Cabin, David Davis Mansion, Fort de Chartres, Vandalia Statehouse, Bishop Hill, Carl Sandburg Birthplace, Cahokia Courthouse, Bryant Cottage, Apple River Fort, Fort Kaskaskia, Pierre Menard Home.

By taking money from the state’s main historical agency to fill gaps in the state budget, the governor and other officials are sending a message to the public that the history of their state is not significant. But the rich history of Illinois is most definitely significant. Resources set aside to preserve that history should not be used as a state emergency fund. As Abraham Lincoln once said, “We cannot escape history.” But if funding is not quickly restored to the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, history may well escape Illinois.

Please sign this petition that will be sent to Illinois state legislators in an attempt to restore funding to the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency and save the history of Illinois!"

[samgrant]

Blagojevich is a moron.

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[Bonny Blue Flag]

Thanks for this post. One of my future vacation plans is to visit the Presidential Museum and Library in Springfield.

I pulled up the website for the Presidential ibrary and emailed a message to the head librarian asking her how and when all this bru-ha-ha will affect this particular museum and library.

I'll let you know what she has to say...if she's not laid off.

The state government turning it's collective back to all the tourists and their money---something or someone must be much more important.

It certainly isn't our nation's history. O.M.G.

--BBF

[30th_il]

BBF, If you'd like any tips regarding Springfield and surrounding attractions I may be able to help. For various reasons I have visited Springfield four times in the last year and a half! Crazy circumstances and favors both within and without my control led me on these pilgrimages. I know the museum by heart...it was almost to the point of the guides yelling "Matt!" like they did to Norm in the sitcom Cheers, ha! It did give me an opportunity to go to more of the off the beater path place, some of which were a pleasant surprise. It really comes down to time and interests.
But back to Illinois gov't...morons with Blago being the Grand Pubbah!

[Bonny Blue Flag]

Thanks, Matt. I will keep that in mind when vacation time rolls around.

--BBF

[Glorybound]

Bonnyblue: The Lincoln Library and Museum is well worth your time, if you get to Springfield. Many great exhibits plus theaters with high-tech special effects that don't detract from the story/message. The enhanced quality of the productions with the special effects are tastefully done, and not at all Disney-like as some critics have described. The museum has original artifacts also. You can get on the web site and get tickets online and print them out. It's pretty informative and comprehensive...be sure to see the big "Casualties" map. You can watch the numbers counter tick off the casualties as the map changes shades to reflect the regions where the battles are occurring, from the first casualties before 1st bull run all the way through Appomattox. I think it's a 5 minute presentation. Anybody please correct me if I'm wrong on that. Hope you get to go.

http://www.alplm.org/home.html


Respectfully,
Leland

[RoadDog]

It's very sad that the governor found it necessary to cut the agency's funding as he did. The governor definitely is not a well-liked person in the state.

The Lincoln Museum is well worth a visit as is the library across the street.

Plus, you can get a good visit of Route 66 at Bill Shea's and a taste of the road at the Cozy Dog.

Make sure you get a horseshoe.

[Bonny Blue Flag]

RoadDog:

A vacation iterary:
--Spend all the time I want at the Presidential Library and Museum
--Get a bit of local flavor at the Cozy Dog
--Looking forward to reminiscing down Route 66.
--Throw a horseshoe at the governor

--BBF

[ole]

A vacation iterary:
--Spend all the time I want at the Presidential Library and Museum
--Get a bit of local flavor at the Cozy Dog
--Looking forward to reminiscing down Route 66.
--Throw a horseshoe at the governor

All good stuff BBF. The museum is overwhelming. Depending on your level of interest and tolerance, it can be a full day. The Library is something else. You cross the street only if you want to look something up. I haven't used it, but if there is anything about Lincoln or Illinois regiments or the Civil War, it is in there. I understand that they have people who live to help you find things.

You have to be a Route 66 freak to trace down those remaining outposts along I-55 that originally existed along Route 66. Didn't check out any of that when I was last down there, but before I go again, I'll have to check with Roaddog for directions. (I live less than 20 miles from the original Route 66 corridor, there is one place I must visit one of these days, but to drive 19 miles to get a hamburger in a place that was there at the time doesn't make a lot of sense.)

Regarding the horseshoes, I have no idea what Roaddog has in mind, but I'd prefer grenades.

ole

[Scribe]

Originally Posted by 30th_il

Illinois, "Land of Lincoln". What a joke.
From the Lincoln Advocate:

"3 million dollars. Compared to the current 2 billion dollar deficit in the Illinois state budget, 3 million is merely a drop in the bucket--

Paraphrasing the late Sen. Everett McKinley Dirksen, three million dollars here and three million dollars there and pretty soon you're talking about some real money.