Peoria Things to Do

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Here are several photos of what we saw as we made our way through Peoria. Next time I hope we can stop and explore, but for now perhaps these photos will give just a little idea of what the area looks like, at least from Interstate 74.

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This is a small museum that depends on the Smithsonian Affiliate program for most of its exhibits. It was an active place that Saturday, with Girl Scouts just leaving after a morning event and the art class folks coming in.

There is a small exhibit of early American paintings, a Discovery Center [good for the child in everyone] and a small planetarium.

The 2 main exhibits were a Jim Henson retrospective [The Muppets creator] and a photo exhibit called Flights of Fancy, both from the Smithsonian.

It is obviously a well-loved and used facility.

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Skip completely disassembled his Pitts S-2S and rebuilt it to specifications unique to his flying style.

The fuselage has been strengthened and fitted with new wings, designed by Scheunemann Aviation Products, to handle the high G loads imposed during his routine.

All the control surfaces have been enlarged to make Skip's unique maneuvers possible.

The engine was replaced by a highly modified, 550 cubic inch powerhouse

I watched him fly sideways fifteen feet off of the ground. The darndest thing to see.

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Like many cities, Peoria has been trying to develop its reiverfront. Although in comparison, the effort here seems to be halfhearted, they have made a relatively pleasant diversion. Corporate chains seem to dominate the shops, but there is also a Mark Twain era riverboat complete with paddle and whistle, as well as a variety of smaller shops and a visitor information center to tell you more. I have to be honest, the Riverplex isn't much, yet, but for Peoria, it represents a big step.

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Like most cities and towns in the US, Peoria has erected a few war memorials. The mist impressive of these is the Civil War monument, I think titled the soldiers and sailors memorial. I'm not sure how many sailors Peoria gave the Union, but quite a few soldiers setrved or were drafted. The art detail on the memorial is pretty impressive, though very much traditional. The WWI & WWII memorials are much newer and more austere, almost as if they didn't have the money to build a nice one.

I was really impressed when I went to a Josh Groban Concert in Civic Center Arena in early March, 2005. Built in 1982, Peoria Civic Center has played host to the best artists and athletes and numerous exhibitions.
It was designed by world-renowned architects Phillip Johnson & John Burgee. This complex is really "a modern urban landmark" surrounded by a striking glass arcade which links spaces. It's made up of a 12,000-seat arena, where we saw the concert, and a 2,000-seat theater,. There are also exhibition halls and meeting rooms for any need (they can cater as many as 3,000 for dinner!)
The Peoria Civic Center is home to:
Peoria Symphony Orchestra
Opera Illinois
Peoria Area Civic Chorale
Peoria Ballet
Illinois Ballet
Broadway Theater Series
YouTheater Series
This place is tops for sports.. The center hosts the Illinois High School Association Boys State Basketball Tournament. They serve as home for Rivermen Professional Hockey, Peoria Mutineers Indoor Football, and Bradley University men's basketball.

The acoustics were excellent for the music concert. There were about 9,000 people in attendance, and all could hear, even those sitting in "nosebleed alley"!

I read that the Peoria Civic Center is preparing for a major renovation soon; it's in the works!

As a high school teacher who wrote recommendations for students, I was aware of Bradley University in Peoria. However, I was not aware of its history.

Bradley University was founded in Peoria in 1897 by Lydia Moss Bradley in memory of her children and husband, Tobias. The Bradley family had gained a fortune through successful dealings in railroads, a flour mill, a distillery, a sawmill, real estate, and the Peoria Pottery Company. After Tobias Bradley died, his wife Lydia continued successfully with the business dealings. She was a philanthropist and did such good deeds as donating 130 acres of land for the Peoria Park District.

Mrs. Bradley decided to found a school where young people could "learn how to do practical things to prepare them for living in the modern world." She purchased a controlling interest in Parsons Horological School in LaPorte, Indiana (the first school for watchmakers in America), and she moved it to Peoria.
She then chartered Bradley Polytechnic Institute and provided seventeen and a half acres of land, $170,000 for buildings and equipment and $30,000 a year for operating expenses!

The school started with 14 faculty & 150 students. Originally organized as a four-year academy (similar to high school) and a 2-year college, there were 400 students.

Mrs. Bradley then transferred to the school the rest of her estate, including nearly 1,000 different pieces of property! The profits from the property was to finance the school.

Mrs. Lydia Bradley Moss died in 1908

Bradley continued to grow and develop; its facilities were in demand during World War I to train automobile and tractor mechanics.

By the 1920s, Bradley dropped the "academy" and became a four-year college program.
After World War II, a Graduate School was established, and the name became Bradley University.

So, without the generous philanthropic donations of Lydia Bradley Moss, there would be no Bradley University

From the moment that I saw it, I fell in love with the impressive Peoria City Hall.
It's a massive stone structure in the Flemish Renaissance style, and the stone is a lovely shade of red.
When it was erected in 1899, it sat on the corner of Madison and Fulton Streets, but as Peoria's layout changed over the years, Madison Street no longer crosses Fulton!
Instead, today City Hall resides next to the modern Civic Center where Madison meets Fulton. The contrast between the old and new is glorious.
This building was designed by Reeves and Ballie, costing $271,000 to construct. It was in 1978 that this stylish building was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Interestingly, City Hall still has the Victorian Ball tower from the original structure, and in the lobby, the marble statue, "Love Knows No Caste" still stands to greet visitors. Guess what? The same local artists who created the Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial on Main Street sulpted this marble statue. (Fritz Triebel)

Over 100 years later, City Hall is still within the same walls, and through careful restoration, it has managed to retain most of its original appearance. That is ever so refreshing!