Illinoisans next year will celebrate the United States’ 250th birthday with new public murals, a student art contest and initiatives to get residents and tourists alike to historic sites, the state announced Wednesday.
As President Donald Trump toys with bringing a UFC wrestling match to the White House next year to commemorate the 250th — and coincide with his own 80th birthday — Illinois this week put forward a more restrained approach.
Still, Gov. JB Pritzker framed the celebrations expected at museums, libraries and historic sites statewide as a way for the state to stand up for democratic values “at a time when it seems many of our founding principles are being challenged.”
“It is more important than ever to loudly reaffirm our belief in the power and the promise of our constitutional democracy, to send a clear message of our willingness to defend our inherent rights and liberties,” Pritzker said at the launch event, which took place in the foreground of the Centennial Ferris wheel at Navy Pier.
The cost of the celebrations to the state wasn’t immediately apparent. Speaking to reporters after the announcement, which fell on the 207th anniversary of Illinois’ admission as a state, Pritzker said many of the events will be held at the local level.
“I honestly wish we were able to spend more because I want the celebration to be as big as possible,” he said.
As part of the festivities, the Illinois Arts Council will provide $300,000 across 20 organizations statewide for new public art installations, according to the governor’s office. Among the planned projects is an installation at Steelworkers Park in South Chicago, said Nora Daley, chair of the Illinois Arts Council.
Illinois Humanities is also partnering with the nonprofit StoryCorps to record Illinoisans discussing the milestone. The reflections are expected to be preserved in the Library of Congress. Starting in March, people in Illinois will be able to record themselves for the project online — or at pop-up studios in June and July, according to the governor’s office.
Local events will spring up across the state, organizers said. Carterville High School will host a southern Illinois music festival; the Peoria Riverfront Museum will hold a yearlong exhibition; and the McLean County history museum will host dialogues on democracy, said Gabrielle Lyon, chair of the Illinois America 250 commission and executive director of Illinois Humanities.
Students are also invited to participate in an America 250-themed arts contest, and all Illinoisans will be encouraged to do volunteer activities as part of the commemoration, organizers said.
Trump, for his part, already kicked off what he’s billed as a yearlong celebration of the country’s independence with an event resembling a rally in Iowa this past July 4.
At that event, Trump pitched sports contests for high school athletes and an Ultimate Fighting Championship match at the White House lawn — the latter of which was confirmed weeks later by UFC’s CEO, ESPN reported.
The Associated Press contributed.