Peoria, Illinois, USA

Peoria Riverfront Museum, Cat Visitors Center grand opening October 20, 2013

Peoria Riverfront Museum, Cat Visitors Center grand opening


"Hundreds of people attended the grand opening of the Peoria Riverfront Museum and Caterpillar Visitors Center. Both projects total about $200 million, with the museum project first talked about more than 12 years ago. US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood praised the collaboration between the city, county, lawmakers and business investment that made the project a reality: "

“The people that are gathered here continued to work
The Plan
until we came together around the idea that we have so much history in this community and so much to share with the world and the world community that will come here as a result of Caterpillar being here, within our state and community, we need one place and one place only, and that’s what we’re celebrating here today,” LaHood says."

"The Riverfront Museum includes a digital big screen theatre, planetarium and exhibits showcasing the history of Central Illinois. The Caterpillar Visitors Center includes a movie theatre inside a D-797 mining truck and exhibits detailing the company's outreach across the world."


Green Sculpture Park



“GREEN” SCULPTURE PARK - PEORIA, ILLINOIS


The City of Peoria has many quality sculptures. The City is also leading the expansion of “Green” Technology and Sustainability. A Green Sculpture Park could be developed that would be artistic and “green”, incorporating recycled materials, wind and solar energy, etc. into the design. 


A program modeled on the successful Sioux Falls, South Dakota program could be created.
www.sculpturewalksiouxfalls.com . Each year new sculptures are displayed in downtown for one year, and become a tourist attraction. After one year the sculptures are replaced by new sculptures. The sculptures are for sale and people vote for their favorite.

The Civic Center could sponsor this event, with sculptures mounted in Civic Center green space. As the event grew it could cascade down Fulton and on to the Build the Block Campus.http://buildtheblock.com

The sculptures would be a major tourist attraction.


The Green Sculpture Park Could start small on the green space at the Civic Center, then expand down Fulton Street to Build the Block and the River.



Build the Block - Congratulations




  1. Build the Block Looks Great. 

    Congratulations to everyone who 

    helped make it a reality


    Peoria Riverfront Museum

    www.peoriariverfrontmuseum.org/
    LIVE SHOTS FROM BUILD THE BLOCK CAM. Build The Block Camera. 
  2. Build the Block Camera

    www.buildtheblockcam.com/
    BuildTheBlockCam.com provides a near, real-time view into the transformation of seven acres on the Peoria, Illinois riverfront.