The Mayor issued a press release urging concerned citizens to call or write state legislators to keep the Vandalia State House, located on old U.S. 40, and other historic sites open. You can read the entire press release and get contact information for letter-writing on the American Road Magzine forum.
It is interesting that Mayor Gottman mentioned the 2009 Bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth and the additional tourism that it is expected to bring to Illinois, because another city in Illinois that contains major Abraham Lincoln tourist sites (and is on Route 66 as well) has a historic site that is also threatened with closure by the budget cuts – the Dana-Thomas House in Springfield. The web site states that the home is due to close on December 1, 2008. It is sad to think that tourists who come to Springfield next year will not be able to see this wonder designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. I personally know one of the volunteers who gives tours at this site, and when I think of all the hours that she and others have dedicated over the years, free of charge, it’s even sadder that the state can’t keep up it’s part of the bargain. Please make your views known if you object to the closure.
Here is more information and commentary on the budget cuts and their effect on historic sites:
Mark Stauter
rudyard1
I snailed 6 letters yesterday to IL politicians who are listed as contacts by Mayor Gottman and urge everyone to do the same because the scheduled closing is a mere 12 days away! As a frequent cruiser of the Old National Road, U. S. 40, in IL I always enjoy the historic beauty of downtown Vandalia and that, of course, includes the Old State House.
What happens to the building itself when lack of funding closes it? How will it and the grounds be maintained if the city can’t afford the cost? Sad times, indeed.
I received a reply yesterday from IL Senator Frank C. Watson who concurs that “what the Governor is doing is outrageous.” He also stated that he would “do everything I can to fight these budget cuts.”
The historic Vandalia, IL State House will “shutter its gates” at the end of operation today, 11/30/08, according to the STL Post-Dispatch. Several other historic sites and state parks are closing today as well.
Becky Repp of American Road Magazine announced that the Vandalia State House has reopened. Here’s her comment:
GREAT news everyone. Check out the story on the Road News page on our website http://americanroadmagazine.com/road_news/road_news.html . We recently received the good news from the Director of the Vandalia Tourist Center.