© 2024 Peoria Public Radio
A joint service of Bradley University and Illinois State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

4 millionth Lincoln Museum visitor celebrated

illinois.gov

The Abraham Lincoln Museum and Library celebrated its four millionth visitor today, and she was met with a balloon drop. 

Elise Arnold and her family were visiting the museum on the way from Florence Oregon to their new home in Kentucky. She says that when she saw the crowd of people waiting to greet her, she thought they were waiting for someone else. 

"I assumed it was someone behind us that was probably really exciting to see and apparently it was us."

Arnold will be able to return in the future free of charge; her prize included a gift of free membership.  

The museum opened in 2005; it reached 3 million visitors in 2012.  But state leaders have debated changing its leadership structure; critics say the museum is not drawing tourists as it should.