Last Minute Touches on Museum and Visitors Center
By: Sophie Nielsen-Kolding WMBD/WYZZ TV
Updated: October 16, 2012
PEORIA- It's crunch time for the Caterpillar Visitors Center and the Peoria Riverfront Museum, with just four days to go before the grand openings.
Both buildings are working to get ready for the thousands of visitors they're expecting on Saturday. There's a lot of vacuuming, washing windows and making sure everything is spotless.
"Every day we find another little detail that needs to be fixed," said Caterpillar representative Jim Baumgartner.
He said they're making sure the big yellow machines are ready to be seen by thousands of people.
"Cleaning the floors a little dusting and also making sure that with all the equipment that's here we have all the safety apparatus connected," Baumgartner said.
Crews work on the steps outside that lead to the parking garage, and inside the Riverfront Museum, security cameras are installed. Museum president and CEO, Jim Richerson said there's still work to be done.
"That list is endless," Richerson said.
In the museum's store, staff members work to take inventory, organize and make sure each item is priced. One of the display rooms isn't quite as far along, Tuesday workers were still putting up dry wall.
"The International Feature Gallery is going to feature the Central Illinois Artists Organization and we are right down to the wire on getting that room finished," Richerson said. He said everything needs to be perfect before the museum shows it off, so some exhibits might open late.
Both men said the reactions they've gotten so far make them confident Saturday will be a success.
"Wow, wow and amazing have been the two words people have said the most," Richerson said.
"Their comments, the number of 'oh wows'," Baumgartner said.
There will be plenty of activities going on outside the Riverfront Museum Saturday in case space is tight inside.
Check out the Riverfront Museum and Caterpillar Visitors Center websites to buy tickets and for more information.
Both buildings are working to get ready for the thousands of visitors they're expecting on Saturday. There's a lot of vacuuming, washing windows and making sure everything is spotless.
"Every day we find another little detail that needs to be fixed," said Caterpillar representative Jim Baumgartner.
He said they're making sure the big yellow machines are ready to be seen by thousands of people.
"Cleaning the floors a little dusting and also making sure that with all the equipment that's here we have all the safety apparatus connected," Baumgartner said.
Crews work on the steps outside that lead to the parking garage, and inside the Riverfront Museum, security cameras are installed. Museum president and CEO, Jim Richerson said there's still work to be done.
"That list is endless," Richerson said.
In the museum's store, staff members work to take inventory, organize and make sure each item is priced. One of the display rooms isn't quite as far along, Tuesday workers were still putting up dry wall.
"The International Feature Gallery is going to feature the Central Illinois Artists Organization and we are right down to the wire on getting that room finished," Richerson said. He said everything needs to be perfect before the museum shows it off, so some exhibits might open late.
Both men said the reactions they've gotten so far make them confident Saturday will be a success.
"Wow, wow and amazing have been the two words people have said the most," Richerson said.
"Their comments, the number of 'oh wows'," Baumgartner said.
There will be plenty of activities going on outside the Riverfront Museum Saturday in case space is tight inside.
Check out the Riverfront Museum and Caterpillar Visitors Center websites to buy tickets and for more information.
