NATIONAL RAILROAD HALL OF FAME Galesburg, Illinois -- The National Railroad Hall of Fame unveiled its pre-concept design vision today, giving the public its first look at what the visitor experience in the Hall may be like. Created by BRC Imagination Arts of Burbank, California, the pre-concept vision uses interactive technology to create an immersive experience that tells the story of the men and women who built the rails. BRC Imagination Arts is the same firm that developed the popular Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield. The Hall of Fame concept has been refined during the last six months by analyzing pros and cons of a variety of experiences to ensure a deliverable visitor experience that is sustainable, able to expand over the years, and has mass appeal.
From the central hall, guests may explore several adventures, each an integral part of the epic railroading saga. Each direction in the facility offers a new interactive experience.
The theme “Engines of Freedom” will link all exhibits in the National Railroad Hall of Fame upon completion. Building of the American railroad system launched a technological, economic, and social revolution that brought opportunity and wealth to our nation and continues to drive our economy today. The National Railroad Hall of Fame will also host themed dining and merchandising facilities that will further enhance the visitor experience while increasing the average visitor stay and generating revenue. Galesburg can expect approximately 167,000 visitors per year at the National Railroad Hall of Fame according to projections included in a comprehensive market analysis and economic feasibility study prepared by Economics Research Associates of Los Angeles during the last eight months. The study also estimated the economic impact of construction and operations on the county. Construction of the proposed $30 million facility is anticipated to produce a one-time impact of $50.6 million in the community and will create 421 construction-related jobs with estimated total wages of $16.2 million. On an annual basis, the total financial impact of Hall of Fame operations and off-site spending is projected to produce $5.5 million in expenditures, generating 68 full-time equivalent jobs with estimated wages of $1.8 million. The projections take into account both the direct and indirect impacts of economic activity related to Hall of Fame activities in Knox County. Additional economic impact is expected to occur outside the county as well, generating un-quantified economic benefit to the regional economy. Economics Research Associates is an international consulting firm specializing in market analysis and risk assessment for private entities, government, and non-profit organizations. Their projections for the National Railroad Hall of Fame are based on a $30 million investment at a downtown Galesburg location. After a review of eight professional firms from across the country, the National Railroad Hall of Fame has chosen Chicago-based Campbell & Company as fundraising counsel. Leading the Hall of Fame team will be Senior Consultant Robert Alpaugh who will assist Hall of Fame organizers in assessing the project’s philanthropic potential and the feasibility of raising at least $30 million to build the facility. Campbell will immediately begin conducting organizational analysis to lay the groundwork for a successful national fundraising campaign and to establish a plan for continued successful sponsor revenue generation after the Hall of Fame opens. The philanthropic market study, prospect research, and annual fund raising plan are expected to take approximately 10 months to complete. Upon development of that plan, the Hall of Fame will embark on a national fundraising pursuit. Campbell & Company is a national firm with 31 years experience in advancement planning, fundraising, marketing communications, and executive search services for the non profit sector. The firm has successfully completed campaigns for the Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum in Chicago; the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio; the National Children’s Museum in Washington, D.C.; the Yellowstone Art Museum in Billings, Montana; and the Museum of America and the Sea in Mystic, Connecticut. |
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Guests will enter a grand hall with the look and feel of a timeless railroad station concourse. A large mural at the far end of the station depicts the entire pageant of railroad history. A digital timeline dominating the center of the hall uses touch-screen technology to introduce visitors to the people, events, and machines that shaped America through the rails.
“Building the Engines of Freedom” Theater will put guests at the center of a great adventure as visionaries dare to build the machines and rails that will unite our continent. This immersive, six-screen spectacular will use dynamic visuals, 360-degree sound, seats that move with the presentation, and in-theater special effects like wind and snow. The effect is to place the visitor at the center of the great railroad triumphs – past, present, and future.
The “Spirit of the Railroaders” will deepen visitor appreciation for the people behind the American railroad experience, illustrating their shared dream in three thematic galleries: Vision, Ingenuity, and Courage.