By Greg Bishop/Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – A year-long celebration has begun to ring in Illinois’ 200th anniversary of becoming a U.S. state, and it was kicked off with events, projects and even a new beer to help make that happen.
From Chicago to Springfield Sunday, signature events recognized the state’s 199th birthday, all leading up to Illinois’ 200th birthday Dec. 3, 2018.
“This is an opportunity to celebrate all that has been great in our first 200 years and lay the foundation for 200 more years of growth and prosperity,” Gov. Bruce Rauner said during an event at Navy Pier in Chicago Sunday.
One hundred winners of the state’s 100-Day Countdown video contest watched the cast of Hamilton performing in Chicago raise the curtain on the year-long celebrations.
A couple of signature projects are right in middle of the capital city of Springfield.
The Executive Mansion in Springfield, also known as the governor’s house, is a signature project. That’s undergoing $15 million in renovations funded by private donations.
Another project just east of the mansion is the Illinois Bicentennial Plaza slated for downtown Springfield.
“This will link the Lincoln’s home area with the mansion and with the capitol and the Old State Capitol,” Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder said. “So we’ll hopefully have some commonality with regards to landscape design.”
The $2 million plaza project will be funded half from the state realtors association and half from a Springfield tax increment finance district.
Langfelder said the project is expected to be completed in August 2018.
It’s uncertain what will happen with the now vacant, grass-covered, city-owned block just north of the Executive Mansion that used to house a now-demolished YMCA building.
“I put a self-imposed deadline for the end of year,” Langfelder said of when he’ll move forward with what could go on that block.
Whatever project is approved for that block, only the sewer updates will be completed by summer 2018 in time for the bicentennial. The rest of the project, which is not a signature event, will wait until after the bicentennial, Langfelder said.
Another signature project is a K-12 education curriculum featuring a wallboard display for all public schools being put out by the Illinois State Board of Education.
In Springfield Sunday at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, the bicentennial beer was officially unveiled. Hand of Fate Brewing’s Illinois Farmhouse Ale was initially selected during the state fair. Founder and head brewer Mike Allison said it means his young Petersburg business will get a statewide reach.
“It will be limited for just a little while, but you’ll see it start to expand throughout the state throughout the year,” Allison said.“We wanted to make it as much about Illinois as possible, so we use grains that are pretty commonly grown in Illinois, corn, wheat, oats, also barely.”
Also announced was an exhibit at the ALPLM featuring artifacts from former Presidents Obama, Reagan, Grant and Lincoln.
“Partners and event and project managers planning activities between [Sunday] Dec. 3, 2018, can apply for endorsement to become an official part of Illinois Bicentennial,” a news release from Rauner’s office said. That can be done by visiting the website Illinois200.com.
Events continue Monday at noon with cities across the state raising a bicentennial flag.
