Illinois Governor’s Mansion Announces Public Tour Schedule for Grand Opening Weekend
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (PRWEB) June 30, 2018 -- The Illinois Governor’s Mansion Association today announced the schedule for public tours of renovated Governor’s Mansion. Following a 2-year extensive renovation project, the Governor’s Mansion reopens to the public on July 14th, complete with a day of celebrations in Springfield. Visitors are invited to attend a reimagined experience through guided tours. Governor Bruce Rauner and First Lady Diana Rauner will officially re-open the mansion with a ceremony at 10:30 am; public tours, led by Mansion Curator, Justin Blandford, and professionally trained docents, will follow. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend the grand reopening ceremony.
“Bruce and I are thrilled to re-open the Mansion to the citizens of Illinois” said First Lady Diana Rauner, Chair of the Illinois Governor’s Mansion Association. “With our extended hours, plus the enhancements that make the Mansion truly accessible to every Illinoisan, we know this will truly be the People’s House.”
With the structural updates and repairs, the Mansion has a new mission rooted in an all new visitor experience, with rooms dedicated to historic events such as the Columbian Exposition and past Illinois Governors from the Civil War Era, along with a space dedicated to the display of art and artifacts. Also opening on July 14th is the Mansion’s inaugural exhibit, Art of Illinois, featuring over 100 pieces of artwork from Illinois artists.
“After two years of renovations and extensive planning for updating programming to refocus on art and education, I couldn’t be more excited to welcome visitors back into the Governor’s Mansion for an all new experience,” said Justin Blandford, Illinois Governor’s Mansion Curator. “This project brings Illinois’ rich history to life, and we can’t wait for visitors from here at home and around the world to experience it.”
Tickets will be available in person starting at 9:00 am on July 14th on the Mansion grounds. All visitors over the age of 5 will be required to show a printed ticket to join the tour. Tickets will indicate your specific tour time, and tours will take place in 20-minute increments from 11:20 am – 4:00 pm. Guests will only be able to tour the Mansion during the time frame indicated on their ticket. There is a 5-ticket limit per person. Guests should enter through the Jackson St. gate. For more information on security guidelines, please visit: http://www.Illinoismansion.org
The Mansion will be open for extended hours, 10 am – 4 pm, on Sunday, July 15th. Regular tour hours, 1-4 pm daily, will begin on Monday, July 16th.
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About the Illinois Governor’s Mansion Association
Built in 1855, the Illinois Governor’s Mansion is one of the oldest and most historic governor’s mansions in the United States. The Mansion serves as the official residence of the Governor of Illinois and as a symbol of the executive branch of state government. The Illinois Governor’s Mansion Association (previously known as the Illinois Executive Mansion Association) is a non-profit organization created in 1972 to preserve and oversee the restoration of the People’s House. In 2015, the Association began an extensive renovation process that will open to the public in July 2018.
Rachel Hatch, +1 2487875632, [email protected]
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