The various exhibits planned for the new
museum, he added, shows that it still recognizes
that a museum “is first and foremost an educa-
tion institution.” He cited planned partnerships
between the museum and area schools as a key
component.
“
A field trip to a museum is a much differ-
ent experience today than it was when I was a
kid. Now you don’t see kids that are running
around the hallways, just glad to be out of the
classroom. Now they have specific educational
exhibits and project a very positive learning
environment. When kids see things come alive
before them in three dimensions it is much more
effective,” Bell said.
Jim Richerson, president and CEO of Lakev-
iew Museum who will have the same position
at the Peoria Riverfront Museum, has been there
since work on the $140 million project started
a dozen years ago. But he can’t rest yet, he said
during a chat a few weeks ago.
“
With everything we’ve already accomplished
on the museum, the little details that are still
being put together are taking a lot of time. But I
am very pleased with how everything has gone,
from the planning to the execution, and seeing
all the complexities come together now is excit-
ing,” Richerson said.
“
I really don’t think people have a real clear
idea of what they are going to experience when
they step through those doors. It really is very
unique, from the level of collaboration between
all the different entities that it took to make it
happen to the last coat of paint,” he said.
The collaboration he spoke of included the
private and public funding mechanism with the
infusion of capital from Caterpillar Inc. to make
it happen. Caterpillar is paying for all of its
$37.5 million visitor’s center and it also contrib-
uted $15 million toward the museum.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 30
THE PHOTOS BELOW AND ON THE FACING PAGE SHOW THE PROGRESS OF CONSTRUCTION ON MUSEUM
SQUARE A YEAR AGO. ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES ARE RECENT PHOTOS OF THE BUILDINGS - THE PEORIA
RIVERFRONT MUSEUM AND THE CATERPILLAR VISITORS CENTER - THAT ARE SCHEDULED TO OPEN OCT. 20
29
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