This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon: August 20, 2008 - Illinois' ongoing budget problems have spilled over into the much-anticipated events to celebrate Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday.
This summer, Gov. Rod Blagojevich slashed the budget for the state's historic sites by 50 percent, or $2.8 million. The cuts forced the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency to lay off 80 seasonal workers and to trim the operating hours at five Springfield-area historic sites, said spokesman Dave Blanchette.
Lawmakers knowingly sent the governor an unbalanced budget for this year, and Blagojevich announced $1 billion in cuts earlier this summer. Squabbling between both chambers stopped the Legislature from overriding the governor's actions, therein leaving many groups and state agencies, such as the IHPA, without much or all the money they believed they would receive.
The closings, most of which are at Lincoln-related tourist sites, will save the agency $95,000, but more decisions will likely be made by the end of the month, Blanchette said.
Director Jan Grimes said the cuts probably will hit every site throughout the state, as well as the cities expecting state money to help them put on their Bicentennial events.
"It is most unfortunate that this is hitting at the time of the Bicentennial (celebration), and so many towns need our full collaboration to tell the Lincoln story," Grimes said.
The following sites will have new hours:
- Lincoln's New Salem near Petersburg will be open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- The Old State Capitol will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- The Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices will be open on Saturdays only from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Lincoln Tomb will be open Tuesday through Saturday effective Sept. 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- The Vachel Lindsay Home will be open on Saturdays only from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The schedule at the Dana-Thomas House will remain unchanged. it will be open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
To view more Lincoln information, please visit www.lincolnbicentennial.gov .
Andrea Zimmerman is a free-lance journalist based in Springfield, Ill.