By Greg Bishop/Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – The Governor’s Mansion will be open to the public for ticketed tours Saturday, giving visitors a chance to see the historic residence for the first time since it underwent privately funded renovations.
First-time and returning visitors will be impressed, Curator Justin Blandford said.
“You’ll feel a new sense of pride where during an earlier visit it might have felt significant, but I assure people that they’ve never seen it like this,” Blandford said.
The $15 million for renovations was raised privately. The Illinois Governor’s Mansion Association and First Lady Diana Rauner led the fundraising effort. The Rauners were among those who donated.
The renovations weren’t just to fix long-neglected issues like a new roof, pipes and living quarters for the first family, it also included, for the first time, a multi-level immersive museum exhibit.
The lobby of the ground floor features displays with artifacts from Native Americans and early settlers.
“You’ll see an exhibit of Mississippian pottery on that ground floor very strategically placed to help guide people back way before statehood and have an appreciation for all of the people who have called Illinois home,” he said.
The second floor features artwork from private lenders, historic musical equipment made in Illinois, and more. The third floor features historic suites of rooms with specific themes.
“An amazing educational focus, outstanding exhibits and impactful and provoking relevant history experiences as well,” Blandford said.
Blandford said something else that’s new is the mansion is now entirely ADA accessible for the first time ever.
Even before getting into the building, the mansion grounds will be impactful as the grounds are almost entirely open with long winding sidewalks leading up to the ground level.
“There’s really beautiful places here,” Blandford said. “All of it comes together to send a clear message to the people of Illinois the governor and first lady want them to know they have access to leadership.”
Saturday and Sunday is first-come-first-serve, ticketed tours. Tickets will be made available at 9 a.m. with tours starting after a 10:30 a.m. opening ceremony. The tours will be in 20-minute increments. Blandford said it will be hot, but they’ll have water and tents on the grounds or people can visit some of the other nearby historical sites that are within walking distance until their tour time starts.
“Now people can realize they’re just steps away from Lincoln’s Home,” Blandford said. “They’re just steps away from bicentennial plaza, you’re just a half a block away from the Dana (Thomas) House. Come downtown and enjoy our museum offerings if you have a later tour time but come back and be among the first people to experience the reimagined Illinois Governor’s Mansion.”
Can’t make it Saturday or Sunday? The exhibits that will be open to the public 7 days a week from 1 to 4 p.m. beginning Monday.
