INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE

As the only museum in downstate Illinois to be affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution, the Peoria Riverfront Museum will bring a powerful cultural presence to the region—making Peoria a regional destination for visitors and residents alike and providing a significant boost to our economic climate.

The museum offers the people of our region a chance to see and appreciate the world around us, right in our own backyard.  In addition to the Smithsonian Affiliation, the museum will have a chance to bring exciting national and international exhibitions to the Heartland, allowing people to see exhibits they'd normally have to travel great distances to experience.

A community that offers a rich culture and leisure environment will always attract more visitors and ultimately more talent than a community without those amenities. This project will set Peoria apart from other Midwest cities.

The new museum will also have a tremendous impact on our economic climate. The impact will be immediate—the museum project, along with the Caterpillar Visitor Center, will spur more than $100 million in investments as the entire area is developed.

The Caterpillar Experience, funded entirely by Caterpillar, will be a high-tech, interactive look at the company's past, present and future. This 50,000-square-foot enterprise will welcome area employees, residents and visitors.

The museum project is much more than relocation and expansion of Lakeview Museum, much more than a new theater and state-of-the-art planetarium. It's an opportunity to reshape our region and spur growth. It will annually attract an estimated 360,000 visitors who will infuse $7 million to $14 million into Peoria County's economy each year—creating an opportunity for a halo effect that can help diversify our economy and help it grow.