MACVB Gets a Piece of the Pie
Last week Illinois Gov, JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced $4.6 million in grant funding to 49 grantees to attract visitors and support tourism across Illinois. And McDonough County's very own Macomb Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (dba Visit Unforgettable Forgottonia) (MACVB) has been awarded over $15,000 for regional tourism initiatives.
The MACVB is led by Executive Director Jock Hedblade, with support from Assistant Director Jan Armstrong.
According to Hedblade, his office will use the $15,589 Tourism Marketing Partnership Grant Program funding (MACVB) for the contractual costs (design updates and printing of 4,500 of MACVB Visitors Guide) and advertising costs (print, radio, billboards, and social media/online ads) for the continued promotion of its coverage area of McDonough County. The area and projects to be covered include McDonough County's Underground Railroad history, Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area historical destinations and increasing its marketing of Macomb as the “World Home of Monopoly” and the “World’s Largest Monopoly Board.”
'This grant is a tremendous investment in the future of tourism in Macomb and McDonough County. It allows us to tell our story to an even larger audience and showcase the remarkable experiences that make this area so unique, from our Underground Railroad history and Abraham Lincoln connections to the incredible story of Lizzie Magie and Macomb’s growing reputation as the World Home of Monopoly through Macombopoly,' Hedblade noted. 'We’re grateful to the State of Illinois for helping us continue to showcase what makes Forgottonia truly unforgettable.'
Under Gov. Pritzker, the state has prioritized making key investments in Illinois’ tourism industry to bring visitors to the state and drive economic growth. In fiscal year 2025, Illinois reached its highest-ever hotel revenue figures with $372 million and welcomed 115 million visitors who spent $50.2 billion.
“Tourism is a vital part of Illinois’ economy, supporting businesses, creating jobs, and driving economic activity in communities across our state,” said DCEO Director Kristin Richards.
“Through these grants, we’re investing in efforts to help Illinois build on the tremendous momentum of our tourism industry and ensure communities across the state benefit from the billions of dollars visitors spend each year.”
The Home of Monopoly
One-hundred and sixty-years ago on May 9, 1866, a woman was born in Macomb who put the 'opoly' in Macombopoly and made Macomb a destination for Monopoly fans from across the globe. To celebrate the late Lizzie Magie-Phillips' birthday, a new statue, 'Uncle Pennybags,' joined the largest Monopoly board in the world – Macombopoly – in downtown Macomb this past May.
Magie-Phillips' 1903 game design, 'The Landlord's Game,' later became Monopoly.
Since its launch in May 2024, thousands of people have downloaded the Macombopoly app by eAtlas to play the 4,000-squarefoot real-world game board.
Through the app, players navigate a set around the McDonough County Courthouse, completing stops, collecting properties, and exploring downtown on foot. Since opening, thousands of players have made the trip to Macomb for the experience. The game holds a 4.9-star rating and has been recognized as one of Illinois's top tourism attractions.
Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area
A new statue of Abraham Lincoln was unveiled July 4 at the southeast corner of the McDonough County Courthouse, where Lincoln spoke in 1858, as part of the county's 'Looking for Lincoln Self-Guided Tour.'
Six years ago, the MACVB put together the tour after a nearly two-year application process to become an Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area. The MACVB's 'Looking for Lincoln' tour allows users to experience 11 significant sites throughout Macomb and McDonough County that are related to the 16th president's connection to 'Forgottonia.'
Individual markers designate the 11 'Looking for Lincoln' sites, all of which include QR codes that direct history seekers to detailed, online information on the particulars of each notable location, featuring in depth history, photos, maps and video featuring a Lincoln impersonator giving 'first hand' descriptions of the sites. The marker tour includes the new statute; a Living Lincoln Topiary Monument; McDonough County Courthouse; The Randolph House; Oakwood Cemetery; The Blandin House Museum; Civil War Monument, and The Wm. Painter Pearson Photography Studio site, as well as other significant area Lincoln historic sites.
Underground Railroad
In November, the 'Freedom's Trail: Underground Railroad in McDonough County' mural was unveiled in the Thomas C. Carper Amtrak Station in Macomb.
The piece, commissioned by artist Michael Mahoney, features an Illinois leg of the Underground Railroad ran directly through McDonough County, with the two most prominent 'station masters' and 'conductors' being members of the Allison and Blazer families and Mahoney.
The UGRR that extended through McDonough County ('Station No. 3') originated in Quincy, which was considered 'Station No. 1,' with 'Station No. 2' located at Round Prairie in Hancock County at the Pettyjohn or Burton Home, according to Blazer's writings. 'Station No. 3' was generally at the home of one of the Blazers on Camp Creek in Industry Township or the home of Billy Allison or one of his sons, Harmon, George and Andrew, at Troublesome Creek in Chalmers and Scotland townships. 'Station No. 4' was the home of Henry Dobbins in Fulton County where freedom seekers went on to Galesburg, Princeton and Canada.
Find more tourism information at https://www.visitforgottonia.com and read the visitor's guide here.
