From the Civil War to the World’s Columbian Exposition, Illinois has been at the forefront of culture and progress throughout its history, and that is reflected in the broad assortment of group-friendly historic venues and attractions found throughout the state.
The following seven immersive experiences and event sites will introduce attendees to the state’s past and leave them eager to explore its present.
MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY, CHICAGO
www.msichicago.org
On Chicago’s South Side, the Museum of Science and Industry resides in the grand Palace of Fine Arts, one of the only remaining structures from the World’s Columbian Exposition, which the city hosted in 1893. Unlike the other 200 Beaux-Arts-style buildings constructed in the exposition’s “White City” and designed to be temporary, the Fine Arts Building still stands in its original location, offering visitors an educational and enriching foray into Chicago’s history. The exposition drew more than 25 million visitors to the city during its six-month run and permanently shaped the landscape of Chicago’s southern shore.
The museum was founded in 1933 as a “center for industrial enlightenment” and makes a great place for special events, according to Beth Boston, the facility’s public relations manager. The 14-acre campus now showcases 35,000 artifacts in 400,000 square feet of exhibit space, but it keeps a foot firmly planted in the past. Groups seeking enlightenment of their own can dine in the shadow of a World War II German U-505 submarine, or host a twilight cocktail reception or tented dinner at one of the outdoor porticos near the historic Jackson Park Lagoon, which was also built for the exposition. Another dramatic, customizable event option is the museum’s 1,800-person Art Deco rotunda.
CORONADO PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, ROCKFORD
www.coronadopac.org
Attendees will be transported back in time as they gaze up at the twinkling lights in the ceiling of Rockford’s Coronado Performing Arts Center because the “stars” overhead appear just as they did the night the theater opened in 1927.
“It ranks as one of the top theaters in the country, and it is one of the most unique venues for groups,” says Cheryl Burggraf, senior sales manager for the Rockford CVB. “Our events focus is on the big picture and thinking outside the box. Groups come to Rockford to escape the hustle and bustle, and our job is to present creative meeting venues to planners.”
Restored to its original grandeur, the theater tops her list of historic experiences. It stopped screening movies in 1984 and now hosts Broadway plays, concerts and symphony performances. Breakout meeting rooms are available, and the 1,169-seat auditorium can accommodate speakers, presentations and up to 180 guests for seated dinner parties and receptions. Group tours offer a peak into the organ chamber, dressing rooms and stage.
“Rockford can give groups an experience they won’t get at a convention somewhere else,” Burggraf says. “We can arrange progressive appetizer receptions or break the symphony orchestra into quartets and place them around a venue.”
NAPER SETTLEMENT, NAPERVILLE
www.napersettlement.org
A former pioneer outpost, the 12-acre Naper Settlement is an outdoor living history museum managed by the Naperville Heritage Society. Located near downtown Naperville, the village is composed of 30 preserved buildings that illustrate 19th century life, including a blacksmith shop, chapel, firehouse and the restored Martin Mitchell Mansion.
Groups of up to 1,000 people can tour property, visit historical exhibits and book a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces, from the quaint Meeting House built in 1841, to outdoor picnic areas that seat up to 135 and are available for buyouts.
Special activities include Civil War days in May, Maple Sugaring Days in March and summer geocaching programs.
CIRCA ’21 DINNER PLAYHOUSE, ROCK ISLAND
www.circa21.com
Opened in 1921 as the Fort Armstrong silent movie house and vaudeville venue, the Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse in downtown Rock Island now hosts nightly dinner theater shows starring a performing wait staff. After operating for more than 50 years as a movie house, the property was converted to a dinner theater and reopened as Circa ’21. The property underwent a $225,000 renovation in 2001.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the building was restored to resemble its original appearance, and groups of up to 334 people can reminisce about a more glamorous era as they admire the lavishly carved walls and ceilings and take in a Broadway-style musical or comedy performance.
“This area is steeped in history,” says Brett Hitchcock, Circa ’21’s director of audience development. “Even from outside the building you can clearly tell that the architecture is from a time long ago, and there are many indian-inspired design elements.”
According to Jessica Waytenick, public relations and marketing manager for the Quad Cities CVB, it is a fantastic spot to host large events and dinner functions or to catch a midweek matinee. Groups of more than 250 can reserve a “private house” performance and dinner.
“We do a big group business and continue to be successful because dinner theater is one-stop-shopping,” Hitchcock says. “You only have to park once, and all your entertainment is covered in one location.”
Originally the property contained a 1,566-seat auditorium, dance salon, photography studio and Hickey Brothers Cigar Store and Soda Fountain.
“It was quite a movie theater back in its day,” Hitchcock says. “Roy Rogers and a lot of the big stars of the era were here.”
The theater has a long-standing history in the community, and many individual patrons hold fond memories of attending shows with their parents and grandparents.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM, SPRINGFIELD
www.alplm.org
A discussion of Illinois state history would be incomplete without a mention of Abraham Lincoln and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.
“By day, it’s the most visited Presidential Library and Museum in the country, offering an intimate glimpse into the life and times of our 16th President,” says Gina Gemberling, director of convention sales for the Springfield CVB. “At night, and for special events and conferences, the museum and nearby library are elegant venues for receptions, seated lunches and dinners, meetings, presentations and business events.”
The Museum Plaza can accommodate up to 500 people, and the resorted Union train station can host 150 people for a reception. The historic ambience is complemented by modern audiovisual services and technology. The History Lessons programming option is available for daytime events at the Presidential Library, featuring a historian who speak on a selection of topics related to the 16th president of the U.S., including period pop culture, faith, famous misquotes and Lincoln’s leadership. Groups can also participate in a question-and-answer session with on-site experts.
“It is a state-of-the-art experience museum,” says David Blanchette, communication coordinator at the venue. “It creates an emotional and intellectual attachment between visitors and Lincoln’s story. The high-tech exhibits and original artifacts have proven to be an extremely popular combination.”
STARVED ROCK
LODGE, UTICA
www.starvedrocklodge.com
Groups can get “out of the office and into the woods” at Starved Rock Lodge and Conference Center, says Kathy Casstevens, the property’s director of marketing. It is unique to have a lodge in a state park, and Casstevens says that the property and surrounding scenery are “completely unexpected amid the flatlands and corn fields of Illinois.”
Constructed in the 1930s and funded by the Depression-Era Civilian Conservation Corps, Starved Rock was originally accessible only by railroad and is now visited by approximately 2 million people annually. It offers 70 guest rooms, eight cabins, a spacious main hall and several meeting rooms, the largest of which is the 2,250-square-foot Starved Rock room, accommodating 200 guests.
Native American tribes once ruled these plains, and the state park is rich with history. According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the name “Starved Rock” is derived from the Native American legend of an 18th century battle of the Ottawa tribe, whose chief was slain by the Illiniwek tribe during a tribal council. As the legend is told, battles ensued as the Ottawa tried to avenge the killing, and a band of Illiniwek warriors climbed atop a 125-foot sandstone butte in an attempt to escape. The Ottawa and their Potawatomi allies surrounded the bluff, laying siege until the Illiniwek above died of starvation.
SPIRIT OF PEORIA, PEORIA
www.spiritofpeoria.com
Leisure and tranquility are the order of the day onboard the Spirit of Peoria. At one point, food, people, news and information was transported primarily by water along the Mississippi River, and groups can float back in time aboard the authentic paddleboat, which is propelled solely by its 21-foot-diameter paddlewheel—no props or thrusters.
With speeds maxing out at 15 mph, the boat makes unhurried journeys up and down the Illinois and Mississippi rivers to destinations including St. Louis and Starved Rock State Park. Onboard, professional storytellers, old time banjo players and ragtime pianists spin yarns and tinkle the ivories to entertain guests.
The Spirit of Peoria offers group discounts with advance reservations, and programs range from 90-minute sightseeing cruises and themed murder mystery dinners to private charters and multiday trips with overnight lodging. The boat has a capacity of 487 passengers.
