| Statewide News
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library opens
On Thursday, October 14, Governor Blagojevich opened the highly anticipated Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in a ceremony where he thanked everyone who worked on the Library design and construction, and presented an overview of the historic magnitude the Library represents. Governor Blagojevich said, “Beginning today, the Illinois State Historical Library has a new home and name, a new culture, and a new commitment to public history – a commitment that will enhance its national profile.”
Since 1889, the Illinois State Historical Library has been the world’s foremost institution for research about all aspects of Illinois history. The Library’s 47,000-item Abraham Lincoln collection is the largest assemblage of pre-presidential material in the world and is used for virtually every publication, broadcast program or film about Lincoln and the Civil War.
Library and Museum Director Richard Norton Smith also spoke at the Library opening, emphasizing the grandeur of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, reiterating that it is truly a world-class complex whose size, scope and imagination dwarfs all other presidential libraries.
The Library is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will be closed on Sundays and state holidays. There is no admission fee and all are welcome to visit the Library to perform research.
2005 Illinois Governor’s Conference on Tourism
Mark your calendars! Illinois' premier tourism industry event is scheduled for March 29-31, 2005. The annual Governor's Conference on Tourism, co-sponsored by IBOT and Visit Illinois, will be held at the Chicago Hilton located in vibrant downtown Chicago.
The Governor’s Conference will again offer a variety of first-rate educational sessions, networking opportunities, an industry trade show and a silent auction benefiting Illinois tourism and hospitality students. We look forward to welcoming our industry partners from across the state. More details will be available next month.
Illinois shines bright this holiday season
Illinois sparkles this winter with a treasure of lights festivals, candlelight walks and joyous celebrations. Holiday cheer extends throughout the state as millions of twinkling lights illuminate sleigh rides, historical house tours and parades, showcasing just the right trimmings for a perfect holiday getaway in Illinois.
Visitors can enjoy a variety of lights festivals this winter. Highlights from around state include: the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival in Chicago; the annual Lighting of the Lights ceremony in St. Charles; Galena’s Night of the Luminaria; Rockford’s Annual Festival of Lights; Christmas Time at the Dana-Thomas House in Springfield; the East Peoria Festival of Lights; the 14th Annual Lights Fantastic Parade in Carbondale; and the annual Way of Lights Christmas Display in Belleville.
An array of seasonal and cultural attractions also make Illinois the perfect winter playground. A flurry of festivals, cultural delights and icy outdoor pursuits await Illinois visitors.
Travelers and residents alike can enjoy winter events and festivals such as Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier, Winterfest at Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Park in Lena and the Galesburg Historical Society Chocolate Festival. Among the many cultural attractions featured across the state this winter are: "Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years– Selections from the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum" at Chicago’s Field Museum; and Rockford’s Lucia Fest.
IBOT offers additional information on winter festivals, events and attractions through its travel counselors at 1-800-2CONNECT or at the Bureau’s Web site, enjoyillinois.com.
Weekly fall color updates on enjoyillinois.com
Fall in Illinois is a spectacular time of year and with approximately 4.3 million acres of forestland, Illinois provides countless opportunities for visitors to view shades of vibrant color. In cooperation with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR), IBOT features weekly fall color updates on enjoyillinois.com to help visitors plan their getaways to correspond with the colors of the season.
Fall colors have peaked across the state, ripening into shades of brilliant red and burgundy, bright yellow, burnt orange and splashes of pink. In Northern Illinois, colors peaked in early to mid-October, in mid-October in Western and Central Illinois, and mid-to-late October in Southern Illinois. Although foliage may have peaked, late season fall colors will be on display through much of November. According to the DNR, some of the most popular spots for late season leaf peeping include Garden of the Gods, Giant City State Park, Pere Marquette State Park and Starved Rock State Park.
Illinois Press Site to go live
This month, IBOT will launch the Bureau’s new Illinois Tourism Media Center – an online resource for the media complete with a variety of information about the state and its many resources.
The new site will provide detailed information about IBOT’s programs and services, including current and archived press releases, contact information for statewide convention and visitors bureaus and regional tourism development offices, and IBOT staff and public relations contacts. In addition, the site will list fast facts ranging from the state’s flower and bird to recent visitor numbers and population figures.
Visitors to the site will also be able to view and download from a library of statewide images. The images reflect the diverse attractions and events unique to each region, as well as capture the essence of the four seasons in Illinois. Images will be updated periodically to represent the breadth and depth of Illinois’ destinations and experiences.
The Illinois Tourism Media Center will be located at illinoismediacenter.com and can also be accessed by visiting enjoyillinois.com.
Illinois makes a splash internationally
Illinois will exhibit at the World Travel Market (WTM) in London, November 8-11. WTM is one of the premier travel trade shows in the world with more than 44,000 industry professionals from over 190 countries represented. Illinois is participating in the Media Marketplace, hosting a reception to introduce media to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, and will be conducting pre-scheduled appointments with tour operators and members of the media.
Additionally, Illinois has been selected by the U.S. Department of Commerce as a Web partner for the U.S. Tourism Promotion Campaign pilot program targeting the U.K. The Web site, seeamerica.org.co.uk, which is launching at WTM, is the main call to action for the $4 million media campaign. The campaign, themed around the film and entertainment industry in the U.S., is a perfect fit for Illinois. |
