Champaign County Association of REALTORS® recently held Family Fun Day at Orpheum Children’s Science Museum as part of their bicentennial legacy project. Champaign County REALTORS® pledged to sponsor the city’s historic site by funding an entire day of free admission for children and families of the community in honor of state’s bicentennial celebrations. In addition to free admission, the fun began outside with the parking lot being closed off for games, food, inflatables, face painting, and a petting zoo.

“The event was a hit with our community and a great way to showcase our local association,” said Max McComb, president of Champaign County Association of REALTORS®. “We had tremendous attendance by our community and excellent participation by our members!”

The museum offers a wide range of exhibits to inspire and educate children of all ages by exploring sciences and arts. Exhibits currently include astronomy, a vet clinic, critters, digging, archaeology, water, tugboat, and a butterfly garden.

Orpheum Children’s Science Museum is located at 346 N. Neal Street in Champaign, IL. Before becoming the children’s science museum, this location was home to the Orpheum Theatre, a sight for vaudeville entertainment and film beginning in 1914. Built by famous Chicago-based architectural company Rapp & Rapp, the Orpheum was originally designed to mimic the opera house at Versailles with an interior resembling the style of the French Renaissance and Baroque periods. Famous entertainers, such as Harry Houdini, frequented the Orpheum stage, which was one of the most popular spots to see vaudeville performances during the early 20th century. After a series of renovations, the city of Champaign purchased the theatre and turned it into the Orpheum Children’s Science Museum in 1994, allowing the space to reused to benefit the community while preserving its original value.

REALTORS® across the state are working with heart in their communities to complete projects like this to commemorate the Illinois Bicentennial. Champaign County Association of REALTORS® project is one of 36 legacy projects being completed by our 29 local REALTOR® associations. Various projects include fundraising for local historic home repairs while others are funding historical murals for their community or promoting local historical properties and societies. Illinois REALTORS® has donated land in downtown Springfield next to our headquarters to build Bicentennial Plaza – a REALTOR® Community Partnership, which is a signature project of the state bicentennial celebrations.

The association is an official endorsed partner with the Illinois Bicentennial Commission, which oversees the state’s plans for the milestone birthday.

Photos provided by Matt Difanis, 2018 President Illinois REALTORS®. Check out the full album.

(This blog post is part of a series over the next several months covering Illinois REALTORS® local associations legacy projects leading up to the state of Illinois 200th Birthday. Learn more)