In 2006, over 5,000 people participated in a poll to name the museum proposed for the old Sears block. Over 2,500 — over fifty percent — of those participants voted for “Peoria Riverfront Museum.” That would not be a big deal if there were only two names on the ballot, but there were five. In a five-way race, “Peoria Riverfront Museum” captured over half the total votes. It wasn’t a plurality; it was a majority.
There was no small amount of controversy over the naming of the museum. You may recall that the museum officials at first trotted out a series of ridiculous names (like “ExploraSphere” and “AMAZEum”), that were met with scorn by the public. None of their original batch of names had “Peoria” in the title because it supposedly “didn’t test well.” Yet, when public pressure was put on the museum folks to reconsider, the name that got the most votes was “Peoria Riverfront Museum.”
Now WCBU’s Jonathan Ahl reports that museum officials have decided that the public’s choice for a name is “too long,” so they will be shortening it to “Riverfront Museum.”
Too long? Based on what? It’s shorter than “Discovery Depot Children’s Museum” and even “Galesburg Railroad Museum.” What about the “WonderLab Museum of Health, Science & Technology” in Bloomington? Or the “Metropolitan Museum of Art” in New York? Or the “Museum of Science and Industry” in Chicago? Do they seriously expect us to believe that “Peoria Riverfront Museum” is too long?
And even if it were too long, why take “Peoria” out of the name? Why not shorten it to “Peoria Museum”? My guess is the real reason they want to strip “Peoria” out of the name to make it easier for them to pitch it as a “regional” musuem, and thus (they hope) get surrounding cities and corporations to donate.
The problem is not the name. The problem is the design and the cost. Rather than changing the plans to a more urban design — which would be easier and less expensive to build, and which Peorians wanted in the first place — they’re going to change the name. That name was the only thing on which the public got what it wanted. And now it’s gone, too.
Of course, they still want your tax money regardless.
If they are trying to be more inclusive, Peoria Area Riverfront Museum would be a better choice. Then it can get shortened to be cool like the Met or MOMA. Support PARM it’s grate!
CJ is right. It’s about sucking taxmoney out of other communities.
The name is very fitting. I know this is changing the subject, nevertheless, I would like to see a statue or memorial to honor “Dan Fogelberg.” Would that ever be possible? He is so significant to the present history of Peoria!
Dan Fogelberg? I dunno. We’ll need to investigate whether or not he ever did drugs — every — or used swear words. Regardless of accomplishments, fame and the esteem in which he is held in the field of entertainment, Peoria MUST not honor anyone who isn’t a perfect role model.
Sorry. Rant over.
Well I have never indulged in self-destructive actions….and my only real addiction is music! Dan Fogelberg is a legacy around the world! I’m not from Peoria. My adoration for Dan fogelberg led me to knowledge of Peoria! He is one of the most gifted musicians who ever walked the face of this Earth!
If they could live with a name like “Lakeview Museum of Arts and Sciences” for 40 plus years (when there wasn’t even a lake within view as far as I could tell), surely they can live with “Peoria Riverfront Museum.” If the idea is to make it more regional, why not just call it Peoria AREA Riverfront Museum like BeanCounter suggested.
Bill: Or whether he actually kind of disowned Peoria.
Theresa- Fogelberg wanted nothing to do with Peoria once he got out. Not exactly a role model for our kids.
Billy Dennis said: “Peoria MUST not honor anyone who isn’t a perfect role model.”
Well, then we need to change the name of one high school, several bridges, a few parks, a couple grade schools, a student center, lots of streets…
Wow–Sorry to hear about that! If he were a native of my hometown, I would be willing to pay for the memorial, myself! As a high school teacher, there is nothing more important to me than the welfare of our young people! Our children could learn so much from such a gifted songwriter,musician and a kind and loving soul as Dan Fogelberg!
Theresa, Dan Fogelberg grew up here. What else did he do? It was his father who was significant in my opinion. He taught hundreds, if not thousands, of students to play music. What did Dan do? He rarely came her for concerts and please show me where he made any donatioons to music education in Peoria.
Don’t get me wrong, I liked his music as much as the next person and I also remember him from my high school years when he played for style shows. And I am proud to say Dan grew up here in Peoria, but I just don’t see where he is a significant to our history. He recently passed away, was there anything in his will leaving money to anything to do with Peoria?
Please correct me if I am wrong.
JW — Billy is being sarcastic. Perhaps you are, too. Just in case, I’ll explain that Billy is referring to the controversy in Peoria over whether to name a street after Richard Pryor (Peoria ultimately did). Many thought Pryor didn’t deserve it. Critics pointed out his freebasing, his foul-mouthed comedy routines, and his disowning of Peoria. Others (like Billy) thought Pryor was a comedy genius who redefined the art, and thus, deserved remembrance in his own home town. They say that the tribute is to what he accomplished, not an endorsement of his lifestyle; and that, if we were to hold every other person who achieved greatness to the same standard, we wouldn’t memorialize anyone.
To my knowledge, there is no such controversy over Dan Fogelberg, nor are there any plans to name a street after him or memorialize him in any other way, except perhaps to be mentioned once in a while in some sort of Delta-system revolving display at the newly-dubbed “Riverfront Museum,” assuming they’re able to wring the money from the local taxpayers.
At the last school board meeting, someone suggested naming the new elementary school by Woodruff/Lincoln after him.
Boy … I’m glad to see my little rant added some action to your already active blog.
What strikes me NOW about the Pryor controversy is that one of the arguments made against honoring this man is that we don’t have any statues or streets names after Jim and Marian Jordan — of Fibber McGee and Molly fame. Well, while collecting clips of that show for my un-lamented internet radio show, I discovered I had a hard time finding clips with Marian. Why? She spent a lot of time off the air due to her alcohol addiction.
I’m not casting stones at here. Been there, done that. Substance abuse isn’t a moral issue. It’s a health issue. And denying someone credit for their work because of it, and saying your position is based on morality just p***es me off.
OK, 2nd rant over. Back to discussion of schools.
Billy, before the hijack, this was a discussion of The Peoria Riverfront Museum gearing up to ask for money from outside Peoria, not schools. (Just thought I’d point that out and get everyone back on track)
CJ, Billy, Theresa, et al,
There are actually a number of projects in the works to pay tribute to Dan Fogelberg here in Peoria. I am involved with a new nonprofit group called Live Music Peoria, and we are in the early stages of planning a festival to do just that.
Our group exists to promote and celebrate live music in Peoria, and I think it only makes sense that Dan be honored in such a fashion. He really did have a huge impact on a lot of people.
Hugh Higgins, Suzette Boulais, and some other folks are working on a proposal for a stone monument etched with Dan’s lyrics.
And, in fact, we’ve had several discussions with Bob Manning regarding a street renaming. There are other proposals as well.
I agree with Billy that just because one did not lead a “perfect” life does not mean you should not honor them for their accomplishments. If that were the criteria, no one would make the cut. We should be proud that a talent such as Dan came from here.
Jon Wright
http://www.livemusicpeoria.org
Who would want “Peoria” in their name if they had a choice… in Algonquin it means a place where there is an abundance of fat beasts. In Spanish, if it were Spanish, it would translate as something like “worse”.
I think we should call it The American Idol Museum, or Deal or No Deal Museum, or Who Wants to Dance with the Stars Museum… to better reflect our culture.
kcdad — We want Peoria in the name because we want a Peoria museum. Peoria has a lot of interesting and exciting history that should be preserved and celebrated. It’s too bad that’s been watered down in order to raise more money.
“Riverfront Museum”. Hmmmm. Riverfront Museum of where? There are many river towns in Illinois, the Midwest, and United States. Peoria is not a big enough city to leave its name out of the museum and have out of towners associate it with Peoria.
Regionalism is a plausible theory for why they are removing Peoria from the name. Perhaps they also feel there is a stigma associated with the name “Peoria”. The cynical side of me guesses that since the people chose “Peoria Riverfront Museum” it can’t be good enough.
Fogleberg, Fibber McGee and Molly, Amos and Andy (only one from Peoria), Pryor,Betty Freidan, and a few others left Peoria to live away due to their work, they didn’t abandon Peoria. None of them “disowned” Peoria; give them their dues in whatever way we can.
“He is one of the most gifted musicians who ever walked the face of this Earth”
Does this seem a bit overdramatized? Maybe in a few peoples opinion, but I don’t really see what the big deal about him is. He had a few geat songs, but that’s about it.
Also to the comment “kind and loving soul as Dan Fogelberg!”– My friends met him (term met used loosely),once after a concert. They said he was extremely rude and wanted nothing to do with his fans. He brushed them off as peons, he refused to speak to or acknowledge any of them.
I suspect that ultimately it will be called “The NEW Caterpillar Showroom”. Right now it is called “The NEW Caterpillar Parking Lot”.
Can we say “Caterpillar Square” ?
I have to agree with RTP. In a marketing sense you have to have the name Peoria in the whole thing. A Riverfront Museum could be in any state, any where. We want people to associate ours with Peoria, IL., immediately. When visitors are looking for places to visit on their travels we need to be specific as to where this museum is. Local visitors are not going to keep this place alive and we need all the outside visitors we can get. So we have to make it easy for them to find us.
I disagree SD, there’s no reason to have to include “Peoria” in the official name. All of the associated marketing materials, if done correctly, would make the location of the museum known. I can’t think of many similar projects that actually use the name of the community in the official title.
Not that I necessarily have an opinion one way or another on the name. I just don’t think it is a necessity to have “Peoria” as part of the name for its promotional value.
I don’t think it matters, CJ. When anyone will discuss the museum it will be the “Riverfront Museum in Peoria”, or the “museum in Peoria”,…it’s not going to be the “museum in that region” or ” that “regional museum over there”.
Having Fogelberg, Pryor, REO or any of these entertainers is fine for a display room [in a museum?], but no statues please. If we are going to put up statues, lets really concentrate on Peoria history. Half the people in this town have NO IDEA who La Salle or Tonti is! At least whats-his-name envisions a statue of Tonti somewhere on the riverfront. Most people in Peoria are completely ignorant when it comes to the REAL history of this city. The local history organizations have continually done a piss-poor job in promoting/teaching it. Lakeview has NEVER promoted Peoria history…they are not a history museum. Why would I want to see them in charge of developing a new museum…anywhere? At least they have Fort Creve Coeur in East Peoria. Go figure.
Personally, I think any Peoria museum without a whole room dedicated to the history of Aiken Alley wouldnt’ be worth visiting.
Um, isn’t Fort Creve Coeur in Creve Coeur? That’s kind of a hard one to confuse the address…
11Bravo,
You know what I mean.
Jon and CJ:
Thanks for all of the information on new projects including an elementary school(possibly?) in honor of Dan Fogelberg! That would be fantastic!
Only a few good songs, you need to do more research….Dan Fogelberg is up on the scale of the Beach Boys and Beetles! He Has so many big hit songs!
As far as contributions, Dan gave most of his money to Native Americans and
the terminally ill.
When my father was dying from lung cancer,I took total care of him. One night my father told me to go to Dan Fogelberg’s concert(I didn’t want to leave him). I had front row seats. After the concert, Dan threw his guitar pick to me and smiled! He’ll never know how happy that made me!
Why are they going through this whole dilemma over the name again, why is it being rehashed after all the hoopla has been gone through once already?
Does anyone else here think that Dan Fogelberg was anywhere near successful as The Beatles? Is that not an insult to the legacy of The Beatles? Fogelberg was talented but never has and never will compare to them. Can we get some stats here Theresa to back up your claims.
Let’s see if I get this right….the Lincoln Museum in Springfield should be the Springfield Lincoln Museum….and The Field Museum in Chicago should be the Chicago Field Museum and the Museum of Modern Art in New York should be the New York Museum of Modern Art and I guess Disneyland should be The Anaheim Disneyland. Yes, as humans we are expected to think and reason.
Also, I think the repainting of the fence looks great. The artwork project was a temporary project and all of those pieces are being reused in other promotional segments of the project. The fence will not remain black….it is a background color to make the rest of the graphics stand out….give things a chance to happen folks before you jump on the down with everything bandwagon.
Billy, you are so full of it. Marion Jordan was on eveyr Fibber broadcast with the exception of a period from 1938-39 after a nervous breakdown. She was there ever week, for Johnson’s Wax, for Pet Milk, for Reynolds Aluminium, for Parker Pens, for every sponsor they had. The show aired from 1935 until 1959 and you actually have a hard time finding shows when Marion is not on — and listen to the 1939 show where she returns after hospitalization and you hear a very long, very long ovation when she is announced.