Here are some interesting observations from other museums of the midwest:
- Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal — Cincinnati’s old train station, Union Terminal, is now the home of three museums (Cincinnati History Museum, Museum of Natural History & Science, and Cinergy Children’s Museum), an Omnimax Theater, and the Cincinnati Historical Society Library. At first blush, this sounds very similar to what Peoria is planning, but there are a couple of differences. First, notice that the name “Cincinnati” plays prominently in the naming, even though it also covers the surrounding area. Secondly, “Union Terminal takes up an area of 287 acres” for its five distinct wings; Peoria’s museum square takes up an area of about 6.5 acres for its seven distinct wings, Caterpillar Visitor Center, and 4 acres of open space.
- Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum — This reference/research facility and Presidential museum opened in 2004. It doesn’t mention Springfield in the name, but it does have a narrower scope than Peoria’s planned musuem. “The permanent exhibit is comprised of two ‘Journeys,’ two Theaters, a Treasures Gallery, Mrs. Lincoln’s Attic and Ask Mr. Lincoln totaling more than 40,000 sq. ft. of state-of-the-art exhibitry.” All of that 40,000 square feet is devoted to President Lincoln, and in addition to that space the library boasts “more than 12 million documents, books, and artifacts relating to all areas of Illinois history. This includes extensive collections of State of Illinois history; Civil War and, of course, the world renowned Henry Horner Lincoln collection. The Library is also heavily utilized for genealogical research.” Peoria, on the other hand, is planning to have about 70,000 square feet of exhibit space devoted to art, history, natural history, science and technology, African American history, IHSA, and other exhibits covering the whole region. Very little space, if any, is devoted to research or library services. In fact, the Peoria Public Library wasn’t even asked to have any part in the project.
- The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis — Guess where this museum is located. That’s right, Indianapolis. Guess what kind of museum it is. Yep, a children’s museum. See how easy it is to figure out when the name is so descriptive? This museum is 433,500 square feet situated on 14 acres of land. It “houses 11 major galleries that explore the physical and natural sciences, history, world cultures and the arts.” That’s a little over 39,000 square feet (on average) for each gallery. It also opened in 1925 in a carriage house and didn’t get a new, dedicated building until 1976, after its success was established. Its new building is also four stories high. An 80,000-square-foot addition was built in 1988 at a cost of $16 million. In 2006 dollars (according to the CPI calculator from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis), that comes out to just under $27.4 million. In contrast, the 70,000-square-foot facility Peoria is building will cost $65 million to construct.
When you start comparing, you start wondering how Peoria can do an adequate job of exhibiting so many different disciplines with so little space. Either there’s just not that much interesting art/history/etc. in Peoria (or regionally, if you will), or else our $65 million museum will be insufficient to house it all from the outset. I fear the latter is true.
The Oakland California museum is another example of what the museum could be. Not sure of the square footage but it’s a great museum that feature both history and art.
C.J.
I would like to mention that there had been [is] a discussion about what to do with Bradley’s historical collection and most of PHS material. Off-site storage, deaccession and pitch, sales to other museums, etc. have all been suggested. Again, one of my greatest concerns is just what exactly will happen to PHS collection of documents and material culture. Lakeview, as they do now, will take what it wants to make a few good exhibits and literally get rid of the rest. All of this is a smokescreen to keep the collaboration partners happy and on board. Of course we are talking about the same people here.
Cincinnati and Indianopolis are also much larger metropolitan areas than Peoria. Springfield is a smaller metro area, but the museum has a very narrow focus, and that focus is Abraham Lincoln, one of the most celebrated figures in U.S. history. People WILL travel to learn about Lincoln. Shoot, it’s probably one of the few things that will draw Chicagoans south of I-80.
The Lakeview board members, excuse me, Regional Museum board members, spent many an hour riding buses to visit a number of ‘comparable’ citys/museums. They came away with what they thought was a ton of helpful info, info that would help them design, build and exhbit material in Reg Musuem. What all of these ‘experts’ did not realize is that all of the museums they visited were desgined as single separate entities. People tend to think that art and history go together. They do not. In the museum world there is a fine line between material culture and art history…usually centered around the interpretation of the artifact.
CJ —
Here’s a scary thought…
Let’s say its 5-8 years after the ADNAUSeum opens and they discover it’s not attracting the 1000 people/day they anticipated. How much more do you think the board of directors is going to ask of the city to make this the attraction successful (a bigger facility, better attractions, etc.)? Do you think they would go so far as to create a new tax i.e. the HRA tax for the Civic Center?
It’s another project for which the bills are never going to go away.
Good point Pundit. I would argue that there is MORE than enough history, art, archaeology in Peoria. I would even argue that a $65 million museum is MORE than large enough to house this materil. The problem is the ‘people’ involved with museum design and planning. Rumor has it that the new museum staff will be made up mostly of Lakeview staff. This staff, from Richerson on down, does not have the experience or knowledge to operate a museum [Regional] of this magnitude. The fact that so many of our questions and concerns go unanswered is proof of this. Lakeview has done a very poor job in making this museum appealing…because they do not know how to do it.
I think Prego is on to something…
A VIRTUAL museum…
Combining two very expensive, over-valued projects into one.
Now, how can we get the city to go along with a virtual parking deck?
Why can’t we just build a big plaza with dozens upon dozens of park benches, then bring Wi-Fi into it? Think of the joy we’ll be bringing to all of the folks that are begging to have their laptops “uploaded” with FREE Wi-Fi? After all, Wi-Fi DOES possess the key to the saving of humanity… let’s get the ball rolling now! It will be far cheaper, plus we’ll take human-kind to a whole new level! That’s right… THE WI-FI LEVEL.
According to Jim Richarson this morning on WMBD, the word PEORIA didn’t ‘test’ well in the ‘focus groups’, especially to people from Chicago that won’t be visiting here anyway. I’m so disgusted.
If that wasn’t enough, they’re not going to release the ‘winning’ name until they go back and decide if the public voted for the correct one. I doubt they’ll ever say what name really won.
If you want public input, be sincere about it. This whole charade is insulting.
The winning name has already been selected…..it is Museum on the Square.
“It’s not the people who vote that count. It’s the people who count the votes.” (Josef Stalin)
I definately agree that the entire ‘naming the museum’ process is a problem. Sometimes I wonder if the people of Peoria don’t deserve what they get. The first time we really see anything in the way of a ‘public’ response, it centered all around NAMING this damn museum! The J Star editorials, and especially the one about keeping the Lakeview name, kills me. At least someone mentioned the bogus Richerson interview on radio. I mean really, is the name that important compared to the resources being expended to build this monster? Peorian’s must not care where the money is going to come from [now and/or later]. Do Peorian’s know what they want or really need in a museum? The Lakeview Board are doing far more than cramming a name down our throats. They have been manipulating and turning a deaf ear to the public since the beginning of this entire project. Again, whose legacy is it really?
Long live the bloggers.
I think that the public displeasure surrounding the naming of the museum is symbolic of the whole process. It is easier for many to comment about the naming than it is to delve into the entire process and analyze and comment on it.
Scott, I think Peorians by and large feel helpless to stop it, so they go about their business and ignore it. I don’t think it’s apathy as much as a feeling of unempowerment. However, museum proponents appear to have bitten off more than they can chew with this project — the fundraising appears to have stalled at $24 million, not even half of what is needed. My hope is that this idea collapses under the weight of its unpopularity, forcing city “visionaries” to go back to the drawing board and come up with architecture and density that’s more urban, and a pared-down Peoria History Museum, like Peorians wanted in the first place.
C.J.,
I AGREE! Do you know why? Because that is how I have felt about this project since its conception. Chris is dead on as well. The big problem is we may be dealing with the same ‘city visionaries’ in the future. Will things improve? I may have to run for mayor.
By all means, run for mayor. That would be a lot more useful than the bloviating you’ve apparently done so far. I’m sorry – what is your background and source of supposed ‘expertise’?
I’m new to reading Peoria blogs, but I can’t find yours. You keep citing all of this supposed experience you have, but I’ve yet to see any substantiation of your claims or ‘facts’ you’ve cited on this blog or any of the other places I’ve seen your name.
Ah yes, the clueless museum board and staff. Which is it? Are they all clueless, or only select individuals? Is the board totally clueless, or the staff. Do you have specific examples of cluelessness, or do you just prefer to toss little literary bombs over the back fence?
It’s all well and good to hyperventilate about all that’s wrong, wrong, wrong with this project…but where do you ever make any sort of positive contribution? It’s so very easy for a person to continue to tear down or disparage a project, a person, or a concept – but where do you contribute to the ‘building up’? The only way something gets done is by people who actually DO something. Reading and writing on blogs is great, but is sure ain’t work (I publish several blogs on a variety of topics).
Lead, follow or get out of the way – from what I’ve read, the people involved with this museum have taken great pains to involve a large number of organizations in this process – that’s part of leadership. They haven’t been sitting on their keesters waiting for something to happen – they’ve been proactive and getting in the action.
Will they make some mistakes along the way? Sure, every organization does…mostly because organizations are made up of fallible human beings. But it’s one thing to make a mistake out of honest effort – it’s another to deliberately set out to fail, mislead or compromise a project…which is your implication in every post – completely without substantiation, by the way.
So far, all you’ve done is criticize – why don’t you get into the game and make something happen, instead of type all day long?
Wow…Former Peorian seems a bit miffed with Scott.
Former Peorian, you mentioned that you can’t find Scott’s blogs. I ask what are your blogs so we can get a better idea what you are all about?
Geez,
For once I am trying to control myself…and Former Peorian challenges me to a duel. Tell me something, why are you a FORMER Peorian? I made a techno-jargon mistake once saying I blog. I quickly admitted I do not have a blog site, I just add my two cents on other sites. O.K.? Again, I will freely admit I cannot divulge my real name and/or background. I have tried that before and the consequences were not pleasant. Why do you go by the name of Former Peorian? Consider this, even IF I were not an expert, tell me the concerns I have [or anyone on this site has] are not legitimate. I DARE YOU.
“I publish several blogs on a variety of topics”
Apparently the word “blog” is a loose term.
Maybe “former Peorian” is a former Mayor?? That no longer lives in Peoria??
We have no need to bicker here. I believe [for the most part] what we have here is honest criticism. We seem to be a passionate, but fairly intelligent crowd. Look at Peoria Illinoisan, he used to be a cold, cruel bastard, heartless and vindictive, a rogue of the lowest caliber, a “Free George Ryan” t-shirt wearing mongrel. Now, I will most likely send him a Christmas card [with family photo].
Please tell me the J Star did not print another article about the museum. Please tell me it was not an interview with another Lakeview staffer blowing smoke again. Kathleen Woith was quoted as saying “There are only 40 museums in the country that are multi-disciplinary, and there are none that do art, history, science and achievement.” Why?!?!?!? Because it does NOT work!!!!! Hello!
Sorry.