PEORIA, Ill. – The Peoria Riverfront Museum continues to celebrate its tenth anniversary — this time, in two really big ways.
One of those ways is by having acquired a ten foot tall amethyst geode from Uruguay.
Former Caterpillar CEO Doug Oberhelman helped acquire it; and when it comes to this sort of thing, he knows what he’s talking about, since he used to work in Uruguay.
“The pride and joy of Uruguay will always be the amethyst stone,” said Oberhelman, at a news conference Thursday. “Everyone had them in their homes as nick-nacks, and ash trays, or they made little statues out of them. They were sold in the airport. It is the mineral of Uruguay.”
In addition, the museum is announcing a $1 million gift from the Gilmore Foundation which will help acquire more exhibits, including a large one on sharks in 2024.
“The Gilmore Foundation’s gift will be used to secure blockbuster exhibitions, like ‘T. Rex’ and ‘Titanic,’ which inspire pride in Central Illinois, and all the opportunities we have right here,” said Laura Cullinan, Gilmore Foundation Executive Director, and Peoria Riverfront Museum board member. “You don’t need to go to Chicago. You don’t need to go to New York. It’s here in Peoria.”
The Gilmore Foundation is named after former Caterpillar president Bob Gilmore. $250,000 of the donation will be used to help match donations of $10,000 or more.
