Eighteen years after the idea was first presented to the public, the National Railroad Hall of Fame could soon become a reality in Galesburg.
In addition to local and national donations, the project is supported by a $478,414 state tourism grant, a $1 million commitment from the city of Galesburg, and $250,000 from Knox County.
The county's grant agreement with the NRRHOF required the organization to meet a fundraising threshold.
Julie King, executive director of the NRRHOF, told the county board at its regular meeting Wednesday that the threshold has been met, with just over $7 million raised.
“Our national fundraising efforts will continue but having reached this threshold, we will move ahead with the preparation of our final design phase,” King said. “If all goes well, we hope some time in the first half of next year that we will be breaking ground.”
King said that’s a success that’s shared by everyone involved.
“Our early organizers, people that have enabled this to happen, and our great supporters from across the country,” King said.
The project was first announced in 2006 as a $60 million visitor attraction off of Interstate 74. The vision is now for a smaller facility next to the Amtrak station downtown with a price tag of $7-8 million.
City leaders started dreaming about building the NRRHOF in Galesburg in the 1990s.
The organization has been inducting people into NRRHOF since 2002.
Congress passed resolutions officially designating Galesburg as the site in 2003 and 2004.
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