The Western Illinois Museum is one of five recipients receiving grant funds from the Landmarks Illinois Preservation Heritage Fund. Landmarks Illinois announced they have awarded $23,000 in grant funding to preservation projects located in Chicago, El Paso, Gibson City, Macomb, and Middletown.
The Western Illinois Museum received $3,000 to continue its renovation of the old Macomb Motors building located at the corner of Lafayette and Washington streets. The grant will fund repointing the west façade, the second phase in a multi-year effort to restore the brickwork to its original 1926 design. Recently, new windows were installed in the building’s large original openings, a common design feature of automobile dealerships that showcased the latest automobile. The repointing will improve the appearance of the building as well as stabilize the structure.
Other recipients of Preservation Heritage grants include First Baptist Congregational Church, Chicago; Project XV Museum, El Paso; Gibson City Restoration Association for the Burwell Building, Gibson City; and the Knapp Chestnut Becker Historical Society, Middletown. More information about each project can be found on Landmarks Illinois’ website at www.Landmarks.org.
Landmarks Illinois grants are given on a matching basis, requiring the recipient to raise funds equal or greater to the Landmarks Illinois grant amount. Landmarks Illinois grant funding is used toward preserving historic and significant places in communities throughout the state. Often, these small grants help spark community engagement around the preservation of a place and help boost local fundraising efforts for the preservation project.
For more information about the renovation work to restore and repurpose the old Macomb Motors building as the Western Illinois Museum, visit www.wimuseum.org. The Museum is located at 201 South Lafayette Street, one block south of Macomb’s historic Courthouse Square. Museum hours are Tuesday through Friday, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Saturdays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. In addition to rotating exhibits, a variety of public programs are offered and details can be found on the Museum’s website or social media channels.
About Landmarks Illinois
We are People Saving Places for People. Landmarks Illinois is a membership-based, historic preservation nonprofit organization serving the people of Illinois. We inspire and empower stakeholders to save places that matter to them by providing free guidance, practical and financial resources, and access to strategic partnerships. For more information, visit www.Landmarks.org.