FeedPress release: New names for downtown museum vote
September 29, 2006 in Overset Tags: Downtown, Museum, peoria, riverfront
Just a moment ago, I received the following e-mail from Kathleen Woith:
We heard you, so the Peoria Museum Partners Invite Community to Help Choose Name from New Options
Peoria, IL, September 29, 2006 – Think no one cares what a museum is named? Not so, judging from the responses when the Museum Collaboration Partners asked for opinions on potential names a few weeks ago. Opinions ranged from “I love these names, can’t decide which I like the best!” to “Did five year olds come up with these names?” So, the partners are saying, “We heard you.”
The name for the new, one-of-a-kind museum planned on the riverfront in Peoria is a critical part of its identity. More than 4,000 opinions, comments and suggestions rolled in during the first polling. Many offered name suggestions and also asked that Peoria appear in the name. The partners are going back to the community for their opinions with two favorites from the original options — Port of Exploration Museum and Museum on the Square — and three more developed through the months of visitor research and testing, and from community input. The “NAME IT again!” campaign will run from today, Friday, Sept. 29 through noon Oct. 9. The partners will announce the new name shortly after polling ends.
The five choices are:
- Port of Exploration Museum, The Peoria Center for Art, History, Science & Achievement
- Museum on the Square, The Peoria Center for Art, History, Science & Achievement
- Illinois River Valley Museum, The Peoria Center for Art, History, Science & Achievement
- Peoria Riverfront Museum, The Center for Art, History, Science & Achievement
- Heartland Center, The Peoria Museum of Art, History, Science & Achievement
People can choose their favorite by going online at www.namethemuseum.org or by filling out a printed form provided at convenient locations around Peoria, including all CEFCU member centers, Proctor Center, the Riverplex, Owens Center, Lakeview Museum, Morton Culver’s Restaurant, Illinois Antique Center, Contemporary Art Center, Peoria Civic Center, Lakeview YWCA, Saturday Riverfront Farmer’s Market, Illinois Central College, Bradley University, Peoria Historical Society offices, Peoria Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Riverfront Visitor’s Center, all Peoria Public Library branches, the Pere Marquette Hotel and InPlay.
I’ll withhold judgement on any of the names, although I will say that Peorians will no doubt find them more to their liking than the last batch. The Peoria Museum Partners took a lot of grief over the last batch of choices. I’d just like to point out that these folks are volunteers, and they are doing something they think will benefit the entire community, and didn’t deserve some of the attacks on them they got from some quarters.
My opinion has been that while I like the idea of a group of museums in one building. I’m just not sure the structure they have planned fits the “New Urbanism” concept we want for the downtown, nor do I think it’s being funded properly. And I don’t think it’s going to be the tourism draw backers say it is.
September 29th, 2006 at 9:24 am
Peoria Riverfront Museum.
It’s a no brainer.
September 29th, 2006 at 10:17 am
>Peoria Riverfront Museum.
>
>It’s a no brainer.
Absolutely. It’s simple, elegant, uses the word “Peoria” in the title, and is descriptive of the function of the museum without being overblown.
September 29th, 2006 at 11:06 am
>Peoria Riverfront Museum.
That’s my vote, too.
September 29th, 2006 at 11:16 am
Peoria Riverfront Museum is fine for now. But don’t ask in 10 years to rename it because of lack of interest. Such as: The Big Yellow Mistake Museum, or Increase Tax Museum, or maybe Extend the TIF museum. Yea, any of these will work for the next go around.
September 29th, 2006 at 11:33 am
Scott is right - plus the fact that, by that time, the river will have dried up due to Gobal Warming.
September 29th, 2006 at 1:46 pm
We should all be thankful that the powers that be haven’t suggested “The George W Bush Center for Reasoning and Global Understanding” which would be more popularly called “GWBCRGU”.
I was going to vote for “Peoria Riverfront Museum”, mostly ‘cuz it will be amusing to hear big burly Cat guys say they are going to “The PeRM”.
Instead, I voted for Illinois River Valley Museum, so we could all say we were going to go visit “IRV”.
On the PJS poll, I wrote in “Riverside Place”, mostly ‘cuz it sounded like a condo project.
The best name remains “Lakeview Museum” and why they refuse to even consider using it is a mystery.
September 29th, 2006 at 3:12 pm
It’s the “partners” that won’t let Lakeview be used…Historical Society, Regional Museum Group, African American Hall of Fame, etc. They think Lakeview, even though it has a 40-year history, will diminish their role in the project. It’s ironic to me that Lakeview is the only one losing its identity, but as a museum it’s the most recognizable. As a member of Lakeview, I have asked why not keep the name. The official answer is a very diplomatic one, but if you talk to people outside of Lakeview who are in on the naming meetings, they’ll tell you that the Historical Society goes nuts if Lakeview comes up as a suggestion.
September 29th, 2006 at 3:30 pm
How is the museum being funded? Is that on a website somewhere?
September 29th, 2006 at 3:49 pm
JW Says: “The best name remains “Lakeview Museum” and why they refuse to even consider using it is a mystery.”
While I agree that this is a simple and nice name, I would just have issues going to the RIVERFRONT to visit the Lakeview Museum.
September 29th, 2006 at 4:34 pm
D Money makes a good point!
September 29th, 2006 at 7:53 pm
Lakeview Museum is an embarrassment. I’ve never been to such an unappealing, boring, and uninspired place in my life. I hope a new building will give them new life.