Illinois has always been a world-renowned center for culture and the arts. While we are proud of all our museums and the fantastic job they do in providing fun-filled educational activities for the whole family, a number of high-profile exhibitions make this spring and summer the perfect time to showcase Illinois’ wealth of quality museum experiences.

Few events are more anticipated than the blockbuster exhibit Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs, on display at Chicago’s Field Museum May 26-Jan. 1, 2007. This spectacular new King Tut exhibit showcases Egyptian treasures—many of which have never traveled outside of Egypt before—that portray the splendors of the era. The Golden Age of the Pharaohs produced some of Egypt's most famous rulers and exquisite works of art. Using modern CT scanning technology, a special section of the exhibition explores the mysterious death of the "boy king" and features a realistic bust that lets visitors gaze into the face of the young pharaoh for the first time.

Also in Chicago, Leonardo da Vinci: Man, Inventor, Genius opened in April at the Museum of Science and Industry and will run through Sept. 4. Although Leonardo is a legend for art masterpieces such as the beloved Mona Lisa, he was also a prolific scientist and inventor. The exhibit presents more than 60 large-scale models of his most innovative designs, all produced in vivid detail from his original drawings. The exhibit also tells the story of the life of Leonardo through a dramatic film, and shows modern-day examples of technology inspired by his work.

And of course, inspiring cultural exhibitions are not limited to the city. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield presents the fascinating exhibit, Mrs. President: From Martha to Laura, from May 13 through October 29, examining the role of America's first ladies throughout history. Gorgeous gowns, historical artifacts and intimate letters will tell the stories of these amazing, influential women. Mrs. President is unique to the ALPLM and will not travel to other museums making an even more compelling case to head to the capital city and take a glimpse into the rich lives of these interesting and often complex women. Continued >

Industry Insider: Elisa Marcus

To help you get to know who’s who in Illinois tourism, ITN profiles an industry leader each month. This month, we introduce Elisa Marcus, international marketing manager for the Illinois Bureau of Tourism.

Hardly needing an introduction, Elisa Marcus has been a longtime force in Illinois’ tourism industry. She has worked for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (formerly the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs) since 1991 in a variety of positions from IBOT customer service manager to DCEO assistant marketing director.

Elisa has more than ten years of experience in marketing communications for both domestic and international tourism. She is currently the senior manager of the Bureau’s multimillion-dollar international advertising and public relations programs, and is responsible for managing JWT and Edelman’s international efforts.

Upon assuming the marketing responsibilities for the Bureau’s international program, Elisa was the driving force to secure a new url and design for the Web site, www.gochicago.com. Most recently, Elisa rallied industry partners and led the effort to re-brand the Chicago/Illinois international program as "Simply Magnificent.” This initiative is a success story already, with visitor numbers up 28 percent in the UK and 10 percent in Germany.

Under the direction of former State Travel Director Donna Shaw, Elisa implemented the first program that offered live travel counselors and a 24-hour hotline to make Illinois travel information more accessible than ever before. She also played a pivotal role in the launch of Illinois' first tourism Web site, www.enjoyillinois.com. When the site launched in the mid-1990s, it was one of the only state travel sites allowing consumers to plan customized trips. While on the domestic side as publications manager, Elisa also oversaw the launch of two publications, including the Bureau’s first-ever quarterly subscription-based magazine, the award-winning Illinois NOW!, and the Illinois Weekend Adventure Guide. She was also actively involved with and responsible for numerous editions of the Illinois Travel Guide. Continued >