MAYOR GOTTMAN ENCOURAGES CITIZENS TO HELP SAVE THE VANDALIA STATE HOUSE

Vandalia, Ill... Mayor Ricky Gottman encourages area residents who are concerned about the Governor's recent budget cuts to historic sites to contact state legislators immediately to help restore these funding cuts.

Governor Blagojevich has slashed $2.8 million from the historic sites division within the IHPA budget, which funds the operation of historical sites including the Vandalia State House. Because of this action, the Vandalia State House is scheduled to close on November 30.

"The Vandalia State House is a living educational library and a long lasting symbol of Illinois heritage," said Mayor Gottman. "With the Bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth coming up in 2009, it is vital that the State of Illinois keep open the very sites that will tell the many visitors to Illinois the story of Abraham Lincoln's life, especially that of his life in Illinois."

Mayor Gottman also reinforced the importance of the Vandalia State House to the local tourism industry.

"The Vandalia Statehouse is vital to the economic prosperity of our community and region, drawing over 30,000 visitors annually," said Gottman. "Fayette County showed the highest percentage increase in 2007 for tourism of all Southwestern Illinois Counties and the Vandalia State House is large part of that."

"The City of Vandalia is near completion of our "Looking for Lincoln" project which includes the display of 10 storyboards in the downtown area near the Old State Capitol. These wayside exhibits portray how Abraham Lincoln left his traces in the folklore, buildings, streetscapes and landscapes of Vandalia. It would be a shame if the facility is closed when the City introduces these attractive exhibits."

Mayor Gottman has assembled an advisory group of dedicated citizens who are working to develop ideas to help keep the Vandalia State House open. In addition to working with the advisory group, Mayor Gottman has sent letters to state officials asking them to restore the Governor's budget cuts.

"I strongly encourage our local citizens to call or write state legislators to oppose the Governor's harmful budget cuts."

If you wish to write a letter encouraging officials to restore the funding to keep the Old State Capitol open you may do so by contacting any one (or all) of the following:

Governor Rod Blagojevich
207 State House
Springfield, IL 62706
217-782-6830
217-557-1733 Fax

Rep. Michael Madigan
Speaker, House of Representatives
300 State House
Springfield, IL 62706
217-782-5350
217-524-1794 Fax

Rep. Tom Cross
House Minority Leader
316 State House
Springfield, IL 62706
217-782-1331
217-782-7012 Fax

Senator Emil Jones, Jr.
Senate President
327 State House
Springfield, IL 62706
217-782-2728
217-782-3242 Fax

Senator Frank Watson
Senate Minority Leader
1355A State Route 127
Greenville, IL 62246
618-664-9108
618-664-9112 Fax

Rep. Ron Stephens
State Representative, 102nd District
112A Executive Dr.
Highland, IL 62249
618-651-0405
618-651-0413 Fax

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 also on Route 66) 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 might 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:

• Illinois budget cuts to close historic sites and parks


• Illinois To Close Almost Half its Historic Sites


• State to close local parks and historical sites