Save Illinois History!

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Author: lincoln's advocate

Started: September 2, 2008, 7:21:42 pm

Target: Illinois State Legislature

Category: Government & Politics

Supporters:

4,447

Goal:

100,000

Goal Progress:

Status

Active

3 million dollars. Compared to the current 2 billion dollar deficit in the Illinois state budget, 3 million is merely a drop in the bucket--but 3 million dollars means everything to the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

The IHPA was officially formed by Illinois law in 1985, but its origins date back to the Illinois State Historical Library that was created in 1889. The mission of IHPA has been to restore, preserve, and protect Illinois' numerous historical resources--a noble mission, but one that requires funding.

Governor Rod Blagojevich recently cut 3 million dollars from the IHPA budget, and as a result, the organization has been forced to virtually shut down. Many of Illinois' historic sites relate to President Abraham Lincoln, and with the upcoming Lincoln bicentennial celebrations in 2009, Illinois stood to make billions of dollars in tourism revenue. But, due to the IHPA budget cuts, most of those sites can no longer remain open, and most IHPA employees have lost their jobs. Who will take care of the sites? Who will take care of the artifacts? No one, unless funding to the agency is restored.

With the recent funding cuts, the following sites have already been closed, and more closures are sure to come: Dana-Thomas House, Hauberg Indian Museum at Blackhawk State Historic Site, Lincoln Log Cabin, David Davis Mansion, Fort de Chartres, Vandalia Statehouse, Bishop Hill, Carl Sandburg Birthplace, Cahokia Courthouse, Bryant Cottage, Apple River Fort, Fort Kaskaskia, Pierre Menard Home.

By taking money from the state’s main historical agency to fill gaps in the state budget, the governor and other officials are sending a message to the public that the history of their state is not significant. But the rich history of Illinois is most definitely significant. Resources set aside to preserve that history should not be used as a state emergency fund. As Abraham Lincoln once said, “We cannot escape history.” But if funding is not quickly restored to the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, history may well escape Illinois.

Please sign this petition that will be sent to Illinois state legislators in an attempt to restore funding to the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency and save the history of Illinois!