"LincolnCam" Available to View Progress of Presidential Library

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan and First Lady Lura Lynn Ryan announced today that Illinois citizens and history buffs can watch construction progress on the new Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum via a new Internet "LincolnCam" mounted across the street from the building site.

The "LincolnCam" is found at: www.state.il.us/lincolncam.

"The 'LincolnCam' allows anyone to see how far along we are with the construction of the Library portion of the complex," Governor Ryan said. "This is a tremendous project for Springfield, for the State of Illinois and for the United States, and it has generated international interest. We hope that people all over the world will use the "LincolnCam" to stay up-to-date."

The live camera shot currently shows a broad view of the construction area in downtown Springfield. Other views will zoom in on the library, the next-door site of the museum and nearby Union Station, an historic train depot that will be converted into a "gateway" building for the library and museum complex. Actual work at the site will be scheduled by the state's Capital Development Board.

Governor Ryan and Mrs. Ryan officiated earlier this month at the groundbreaking ceremonies for the library building, which is scheduled for completion in 2002. The museum portion of the $115 million complex is scheduled to be finished in 2003.

The library building will house the state's world-renowned Lincoln Collection and serve as the new home for the Illinois State Historical Library. The museum will contain state-of-the-art exhibits on Lincoln and his times, audio-visual programs, a restaurant and gift shop.

The buildings were designed by architect Gyo Obata of Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum of St. Louis. The innovative exhibits and theaters inside the museum building are being designed by BRC Imagination Arts of Burbank, California.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is being funded through a variety of public and private sources. The State of Illinois has appropriated $50 million for the facility, with the City of Springfield contributing $10 million plus the land upon which the structures are being built. The federal government has provided $2.7 million to help plan the library and museum, and in its most recent session Congress committed $10 in matching funds. Congress has authorized a $50 million cap on matching funds for the project.

In addition, private fundraising efforts are underway, with more than $4 million in major corporate donations to date. Among the donations are $2 million from the Ameritech Foundation to fund The Ameritech Holavision® Theater; $1 million from the Motorola Foundation; and $1 million from the State Farm Companies Foundation.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Foundation, chaired by First Lady Lura Lynn Ryan, is actively seeking $35 million in private funds to help complete construction and fund an endowment for ongoing public programming.