macombopoly!

Play the world's largest board game and compete for a spot on the Leaderboard while learning the history of Macomb and the origins of the Monopoly game, called The Landlord's Game invented by local Lizzie Magie. 

Game begins on May 9, 2024. Compete individually or form a team of up to 5 persons. For more info, visit https://www.visitforgottonia.com/play/macombopoly/. 

Complete objectives to win prizes! To access your prizes, tap the My Profile icon at the bottom-right of the main app screen, then select "Prizes." 
*All coupons are single use, one per person.*

Though Pearson Photography Studio was only open for around six years, it had a monumental impact on the history of Macomb because it documented what life was like in the 1850s & 1860s.   

Pearson Photography Studio was opened in 1858 by William Painter Pearson, otherwise known as W.P. Pearson. His family moved to Macomb during the late 1850s and Pearson established his studio on the second floor of the building above you and spent his time photographing Macomb’s citizens. 

Pearson also served his state and country, having joined the Illinois Civil War Muster in 1862, rising to the rank of Second Lieutenant.  He served with them for over a year, after which he resigned for a reason lost to time. Unfortunately, he passed away in 1864 after being fatally injured by a team of runaway horses. 
Stand in front of the plaque honoring Pearson's contributions to Macomb's storied past and click ""Guess"" below.

When you're done playing Macombopoly, be sure to check out our Looking for Lincoln guided tour on eATLAS!"


Pearson Photography Studio

W.P. Pearson had the opportunity to photograph Abraham Lincoln, who was then a lawyer staying in Macomb overnight in between his great debates with Stephen A. Douglas to rally support for his election to the Senate. Lincoln had been traveling with James K. Magie, the father of Lizzie Magie, and he convinced Lincoln to sit for an ambrotype in Macomb so that Magie could have a photo of him to publish in the Oquawka Plaindealer, a local newspaper. 

Find the plaque commemorating this event and click on the photo icon below to take a selfie with it! When you post online, don't forget to tag #macombopoly

When you're done playing Macombopoly, be sure to check out our Looking for Lincoln guided tour on eATLAS!                                                                                                                                                      


The photograph Lincoln sat for was not actually a photograph at all; it was an ambrotype, which were negative images that were cast onto glass plates and would produce a positive image once mounted on a dark background. Lincoln was actually unfamiliar with the ambrotype camera, which was a newer technology at the time, but was willing to have his photo taken, remarking to Pearson, “Well, do you want to take a shot at me with that thing?” The resulting photo has been praised as the clearest and most accurate photo of Abraham Lincoln taken during that time and it helped acquaint country residents of Illinois with the friendly face of Honest Abe. The Lincoln ambrotype remained in Pearson’s possession for a few more years, after which it was sold and later destroyed in a fire. Luckily, a photograph had been taken of the ambrotype, preserving the image. 
  
Look at the plaque commemorating Pearson Photography and answer the following question below: what year did Lincoln visit Macomb and sit for his ambrotype portrait?

When you're done playing Macombopoly, be sure to check out our Looking for Lincoln guided tour on eATLAS!          

Did you know that the building that once stood at this spot was home to the medical practice of Dr. Elizabeth Miner, the first female physician in McDonough County? She opened her practice in 1895, above her husband's bookstore, and served McDonough County for over 50 years!  Stand under the mini clock tower where the building's entrance once stood and click "Guess"

Macomb & Western Railroad

The entrance to Clock Tower Alley is of course, a tiny clock tower! Using the photo icon below, take a selfie standing under the tower, looking up at the clock (so you'll always remember this time here in Macomb!) Post it online, tagging #macombopoly.

Macomb & Western Rail Road

Lizzie Magie is most famous for inventing The Landlord's Game, but that wasn't the only game she created. King's Men, Bargain Day, Mock Trial, and Department Store/Competition are all her inventions! Backtrack a bit and peer into the windows of the bank to find a display of some of Lizzie's games. There is, however, an impostor. One game in the window does not feature Lizzie, but rather the man who sold her game to Parker Brothers. What is the name of that game?

Watch the video above and answer the following question: What is the name of Lizzie Magie's original game that became Monopoly?

Jefferson Street

This spot used to be home to C.S. Cottrell's Hardware Store back in the 1860s and 1870s. Cottrell owned several buildings, and he leased the one next door to Luther Johnson (Johnson's Dry Goods). Check out the photos above and answer the following question: which of the original Monopoly pieces would likely be right at home on the shelves of Cottrell's store?

Watch the video above and learn about Lizzie's father, James K. Magie. Then answer the following question: Who did Lizzie Magie's father travel around Illinois with?

Watch the video above to learn more about Lizzie Maggie's talent for invention. Then, answer the following question: How old was Lizzie when she received her first patent?

Washington Street

The Monopoly Game includes two Utilities properties, where rent depends on a dice roll. One is call Water Works, what is the other? 

The lightbulb has long been the symbol for an idea, a sudden burst of inspiration or innovation, or an "aha moment." As an inventor, Lizzie Magie was no stranger to that feeling. Click on the photo icon below to take a silly selfie of your best "aha" expression and post it online with #macombopoly

This building was the original site of the Macomb Clinc, founded by Dr. J.B. Holmes, Dr. W.M. Hartman, Dr. J.W. Hermetet, Dr. S.S. Allen, and others. Find the plaque honoring this acheivement, and answer the following question: in what year was the clinic founded?

Carroll Street

Time for an adventure! Take a little detour and head south along S. Lafayette St. until you find Macomb's place for shelves filled with books and knowledge. You'll know you're in the right spot when you see The Love Puppy--artist Isabella Galioto's contribution to the WIU Rocky Parade. Take a photo with The Love Puppy and post it online #macombopoly.

Time for another adventure! Take a short walk south along S. Lafayette St. until you find Macomb's home for Western Illinois history. South of the main entrance you'll see a mini mural celebrating Macomb's Education Foundation. Have a seat at the mural and take a selfie. Post it with #macombopoly.

Look at the commemorative plaque at 2 West Side Square and you'll notice that on November 29, 1930, three Macomb police officers were shot and killed near the southwest corner of the town square. The killer was a burglar and car thief from Canton, Illinois, named Edwin Vrell. While the suspect was being transported in a police car just outside of the Macomb Police Headquarters, he pulled a gun that was hidden in his coat and mortally wounded three officers. He was subsequently killed trying to escape in the police car. It was claimed that their funerals were among the largest that Macomb had ever seen.

Hardisty Way

Check out the plaque again and answer the following question: Which officer was killed in the 1930 massacre where you are currently standing? Enter the best answer: 
1. Albert Links
2. Earnest P. Bowman
3. J. Edward Whittlesey. 
4. All of the above. 

Not far from the shootout plaque you'll find Chubby's Rock-Y Dog--artist Kryndle Schobert's contribution Western Illinois University's Rocky on Parade public art project. Take a selfie with Rock-Y, and be sure to post it online, tagging #macombopoly.

This spot for live music is where we'll honor Albert Omega Sears, better known as “Big Al Sears.” Sears was born February 21, 1910 here in Macomb, IL in the heart of Forgottonia. Noted Jazz historian and scholar Phil Schaap claims “Al Sears undoubtedly made the largest anonymous contribution to 20th Century America that can be clearly referenced.” Sears played saxophone and played it well, Sears played as a teenager with Fats Waller. In 1928 Sears replaced the tenor saxophonist Johnny Hodges in the orchestra of Chick Webb, in the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem.  He played with a number of other noted Big Bands through the 1930’s hooking up with Lionel Hampton‘s group in 1943, before becoming a soloing member of Duke Ellington‘s Orchestra in 1944. Listen to the Big Al Sears Orchestra by watching the videos.

Big Al Sears Boulevard

Take a short side-trip and head one block south on S. Lafayette Ave to The Old Dairy Café to find the Old Dairy Mural. Numerous Macomb icons are pictured in the mural. Find Big Al and his saxophone and take a photo with him. Don't forget to post it online, tagging #macombopoly.

What instrument did Macomb's own Big Al Sears play? If you don't remember, head back down S. Lafayette to see him holding it…

Take a quick stroll across the street to the center square, and find the plaque on the building's southeast corner. In 1858, Abraham Lincoln spoke to the people of Macomb and McDonough County here at the Courthouse on two separate occasions. Find the plaque and take a selfie with it, while doing your best Lincoln impression. Tag #macombopoly.

When you're done playing Macombopoly, be sure to check out our Looking for Lincoln guided tour on eATLAS!

Abraham Lincoln Lane

George Head's Tavern once stood on this corner. It served as an early local hotel and stagecoach stop. In 1850, A.V. Brooking bought it and renamed it the McDonough House. It continued to serve as Macomb's Stagecoach Stop.  Find marker honoring that role, just around the corner to the West. Stand right in front of the marker and click "Guess."

Quick! Watch the video above or run back across the street to the Courthouse and the Lincoln plaques on the southeast corner of the building. How many people stood out in the rain in October to hear Abraham Lincoln's speech?  Enter a number without a comma (for example, 2500 instead of 2,500).

In the mid-1800s, this area was known Campbell's Corner or Campbell's Row, home to various building's owned by James M. Campbell. Campbell was a prominent Macomb resident, serving as clerk for both the Circuit Court and the County Commissioners Court of McDonough County, postmaster for 15 years, and sitting on the city council. He was a staunch Democrat and supported Stephen A. Douglas in the 1860 presidential election (and the 1858 debates that proceeded it) against which notable American figure?

Lafayette Street

Did you know that Macomb is named after General Alexander Macomb? He was the hero of the Battle of Plattsburg, N.Y. and served in the U.S. Army for more than 40 years. There is a monument honoring him in Chandler Park, 1 block north of here, where you can rub his nose for good luck!  Here is a tricky question (you can watch the video above if you don't know the answer!): What war did General Macomb fight in?

What is the space called on the Monopoly board where nothing happens?

Elizabeth Magie was born in Macomb, IL on May 9, 1866, in a small home located on North College Street.  She was the daughter of James K. Magie of New Jersey and Mary Jane Ritchie of New York. James K. Magie first purchased the home in which Elizabeth was born on October 1, 1864 and sold the home to a Mr. Bigger J. Head on  September 3, 1866. The Magie’s then moved to Canton, IL where James purchased  the interest of Mr. Alpheus Davison for the Canton Weekly Register Newspaper in October 1866.

Elizabeth being the daughter of a journalist and well educated by her father, she was bound for greatness.  Influenced by the book , “Progress & Poverty” written by Henry George, lead  Elizabeth “Lizzie” to the creation of  “The Landlord’s Game” in 1903 and patented in 1904, which eventually became known as the game of  “Monopoly”.

Take a goofy, fun selfie with the Lizzie Magie Sculpture on the corner of the Square and post it with #macombopoly".


Lizzie Magie Lane

Elizabeth Magie is known as the Famous Inventor of Games, as she created much more than just the Landlord's Game.  She invented Department Store/Competition, Bargain Day, King's Men, and Mock Trial. The next time you pass the Clock Tower Community Bank, be on the lookout for the window display of some of her creations. In the meantime, find the Lizzie Magie statue, stand in front of it and click "Guess."

Watch the video above and answer the following question: Did Lizzie and her fellow Georgists believe the government should be funded by:
A. tariffs
B. a tax on alcohol
C. a tax on landlords
D. a tax on labor

Ruth May Tunnicliff was born May 1, 1976 in Macomb.  Ruth was tutored at her home, probably by her mother, and then attended Vassar College and received her A.B. degree with Phi Beta Kappa honors at the age of 19.

Ruth took pre-med courses at the University of Chicago in the late 1890’s, followed by medical study at the Women’s Medical College at Northwestern University and then Rush Medical College.   She received her M.D. from Rush in 1903 in the first class to graduate women (nine women and 250 men).
Dr. Tunnicliff's major work included the discovery of the diplococcus present in the secretions (eyes, nose, and mouth) of measles patients in 1917.   She was the first to develop an inoculation to prevent this devastating yet common disease, which in the early 20th century attacked some three to four million Americans every year.

Her achievements were remarkable, but she always struggled against gender bias.  Despite being a distinguished research bacteriologist at the renowned McCormick Institute, she was never accepted as a teaching faculty member because of her gender.

In 2015, she was one of the women honored by the McDonough County Women's Social Service Memorial, "Facing the Storm," a bronze statue in Macomb, Illinois.  GO one block north to Chandler Park and take a photo of the memorial statue and return to your current spot.

C.V. Chandler Avenue

In 1899, prominent local businessman and Civil War veteran C.V. Chandler had a 20-foot tall memorial statue erected in the park that now bears his name. The statue honors the county's Civil War soldiers and was dedicated on August 3, 1899.  Take a short walk north on N. Lafayette St. to Chandler Park and find the memorial. Take a photo with the statue before returning to your current spot. 

Just around the corner sits the original Chandler Block, built by prominent local businessman C.V. Chandler in 1879. It has been home to the Chandler Opera House (1873), Chandler Theater (1912-1918), and Illinois Theater (1918-2004). 

What is it called today?

This is a fashionable spot! These buildings once held Jonas Strauss' Clothing Store and B.F. Randolph's Boot and Shoe Store. What original Monopoly piece would fit right in on the shelves of 1873 Randolph's?

Ewing Way

B.F. Randolph's Boot and Shoe Store once stood here. Like many companies in the late 19th century, Randolph printed and distributed advertising notes--slips of paper that looked similar to real currency to catch the eye, but in denominations that the U.S. government never printed ($3). In Lizzie Magie's The Landlord Game, the largest bill denomination is $100. What is the largest bill in the (not so) original Monopoly game? 

The classic monopoly game pieces include a nod to fine apparel. Which original game token could be worn on your head if you were a very fancy gentleman?

Watch the video above and then answer the following question: What job, common to educated young women at the time, was only paying Lizzie $10 a week?

Carl Sandburg Avenue

In October of 1906, just weeks after Lizzie's newspaper ad offering to self herself to the highest bidder was published, Lizzie went to visit her brother in Washington, D.C. Reporters there tracked her down to question her about the massive response to her ad. "The first morning after the advertisement appeared in the Chicago papers my bell rang before 6 o'clock, and some busy aspirant for my purchase, determined to come early and avoid the rush, made me an offer then and there. I couldn't get fairly dressed before there were more, and a steady stream of prospective purchasers and letters from others poured into my flat all day. The next day it was the same."
"I had offers of all kinds. A dime museum offered me $150 to pose as a freak. A man who discovered that I was his affinity, wanted to give me $100,000, and another offered me a trip to Europe. I think I had everything I can think of offered to me, but I considered the newspaper offer the best." 
Lizzie moved to New York and took a position writing essays for a newspaper.

Watch the video above and answer the following question: How much money was Lizzie Magie paid from Parker Brothers for the rights to her Landlord's Game? Enter your answer as a dollar value such as $950.

You've just landed on Bootlegger Lane!  Forgottonia was home to famous bootlegger Kelly Wagle who worked with Al Capone.  He smuggled liquor from Chicago to this area. Born in Colchester, Illinois, he became the most notorious man in McDonough County. Dr. John Hallwas, a McDonough County historian and author, wrote a book about Wagle, which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. 


Bootlegger Lane

Watch the video above to learn about bootlegger Kelly Wagle's Field of Dream move that brought the Black Sox to Forgottonia. 
What was the final score in the Colchester vs Macomb game? (Write the score as number-number, e.g 2-1)

What famous Chicago Gangster has ties to the Forgottonia area?

See how similar the Landlord's Game to Monopoly really are.  Head over to the Game Board Sculpture and take a photo of the board and post it online with #macombopoly.

Rock Hanson Road

You've likely noticed several Bulldog's around the downtown Square. They are all a part of Rocky on Parade, a public art project and fundraiser. The bulldog is what local college's mascot? 

Take a short detour and walk around corner and head north on N. Randolph to find the Sports Corner mural. The mural features several Monopoloy game pieces. Take a selfie in front of your favorite one. Post online tagging #macombopoly.

Time for a field trip! Head north to the corner of Randolph and Carroll Streets and look for the mural of Home Town Hero and Civil Rights Pioneer Reverend Dr. C. T. Vivian.
 
C.T. Vivian grew up here in Macomb, and went on to attend Western Illinois University. He helped organize the first lunch counter sit-ins in Nashville, participated in Freedom Rides with John Lewis, marched on Washington, and was a friend and confidant on Rev. Martin Luther King.  The mural illustrates several key moments of Vivian's life. Take a selfie with whichever part of the mural speaks to you the most, and post it online with #macombopoly.

C.T. Vivian Way

On May 24, 1961, Rev. Dr. C.T. Vivian was one of the twenty-seven Freedom Riders infamously arrested. What town was he arrested in? The town name can be seen in his mugshot on his mural…

In 2013 Rev. Dr. C.T. Vivian was awarded this nation's highest civilian honor--The Presidential Medal of Freedom. What president presented him with this award? The moment is immortalized on Vivian's mural…

On this site in 1872, William H. Ball and James B. Fields opened the doors to the first black-owned business in Macomb. Fields was born a slave, before escaping with this family in 1862 and moving to Quincy, IL. He later moved to Macomb. Ball was born in Pennsylvania and later moved to Chicago. He joined the Union Army in early 1864, and moved to Macomb after the war.   Find the plaque honoring their business, and take a selfie with it! Post online and tag #macombopoly #forgottonia.

Jackson Street

Return to the plaque honoring Macomb's first black-owned business. What kind of shop did William H. Ball and James B. Fields open in 1872?

Macomb's first black-owned business started cutting hair in 1872. Take a silly selfie pretending to cut your own hair and post it online, tagging #macombopoly #forgottonia.

Time to take a little sidetrip! Take a short walk east on E. Jackson to find the Lincoln Topiary--it's 15 feet tall and sports a beautiful flowering beard, so you can't miss it! If you need help getting there, open up your mini map by hitting the map icon in the top right corner. Take a selfie with  Honest Abe, then Post it! #macombopoly

When you're done playing Macombopoly, be sure to check out our Looking for Lincoln guided tour on eATLAS!

Illinois Avenue

Watch the video above and answer the following question: What year was the Living Lincoln Topiary Monument dedicated?

When you're done playing Macombopoly, be sure to check out our Looking for Lincoln guided tour on eATLAS!

Time for another trip! This time head across the street toward the courthouse and find the Looking For Lincoln marker. Stand next to the marker (give it a quick read) and click "Guess."

When you're done playing macombopoly, be sure to check out our Looking for Lincoln guided tour on eATLAS!

The Macomb & Western Illinois Railway stretched from Macomb on Johnson Street to the south with a stop in Industry, IL and ended at Littleton in Schyler County. The railroad began operating in 1904 to carry passengers and provide farmers with a way to ship grain and livestock to Macomb. The railway's president and main financier was local businessman C.V. Chandler. When he went bankrupt and the railway was sold, a group of local farmers and merchants got together to purchase it, renaming it the Macomb, Industry & Littleton Railway (M.I.L.). This lasted until 1928, when advances in the automotive industry made the venture obsolete. 

What town was at the most northern point on the M.I.L. Railroad?

Illinois Zephyr RR

Besides C.B. & Q. Railroad, McDonough County had another railroad, the Underground Railroad. While the latter had conductors, it did not have tracks. The Underground Railroad helped slaves escape to freedom in the north. It is estimated that a couple hundred enslaved people were helped to travel from Quincy to Chicago through the southern part of McDonough County. The county's two most prominent conductors on the "railroad" were the Allison and Blazer families. Watch the video above to find out where these familes found their final resting place. Type in the answer below.

Travel by train! Today the C.B.& Q. Railroad tracks transport passengers from Chicago to Macomb on what federal train line?

The Randolph House was built in 1857 by William H. Randolph, a prominent businessman in Macomb. The hotel was known for its unrivaled elegance. Lincoln traveled through McDonough County at least four times.  He stayed in the Randolph House on two occasions in 1858: Wednesday, August 25th and Monday, October 25th. After the president’s assassination the room became a local Lincoln shrine.

To complete this stop, find the plaque commemorating Lincoln's stay. Walk to the southern corner of The Nail Salon outside where the Randolph House Hotel stands in the Southeast Corner of the square. Then, hit the ‘guess’ button below to confirm your location.

Randolph House Hotel

W.H. Randolph was a staunch supporter of Abraham Lincoln, both before and after he became president. He shared a correspondence with Lincoln in 1850's (swipe through to see photographs of some of those letters.) Watch the video above and then answer the following question: In what year did Randolph write to Lincoln, asking him to come speak against Douglas and the Kansas-Nebraska Act?  

There are actually 2 plaques honoring the Randolph House Hotel and Abraham Lincoln's stays there. Pick your favorite one and take a selfie with it. Post it online, tagging #macombopoly.

A Fun Game Celebrating the Heart of Forgottonia, in Macomb, Illinois

Macombopoly!

looking for lincoln in macomb

Located in western Illinois’ Unforgettable Forgottonia, the community of Macomb and its surrounding area has several significant connections to the country’s 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. Through the Looking For Lincoln offices in Springfield, IL and the U.S. National Parks Service, Macomb has been designated an Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area, and now offers this unique Adventure that will guide you to 10 significant Lincoln sites directly related to Abraham Lincoln throughout Macomb and McDonough County, emphasizing his unique connection to the Unforgettable Forgottonia community. We've also included a couple of fun local stops to enhance this unforgetABEle Adventure.

Keep an eye out for the individual markers designate every one of the 10 Macomb Looking For Lincoln stops, featuring in-depth history, photos, and videos of "Abe Lincoln” giving “first hand” descriptions of the sites.

What are you waiting for? Start now and explore Unforgettable Forgottonia’s 'Looking for Lincoln' app-guided tour!

Please note that the majority of this Adventure is walkable, but the last three stops are each a ten-minute drive to commute to.

If you like this Adventure, stay tuned for the Macomb-Opoly Adventure coming in May 2024!

Lincoln Addresses Residents at the McDonough Courthouse

Wayside Exhibit

Abraham Lincoln Portrait

Living Lincoln Topiary Sculpture

Chandler Park Civil War Monument

Historic Railroad Depot & Unforgettable Forgottonia Visitors Center

Bold Brew Coffee House

Oakwood Cemetery

Malpass Library Archives

Stickle Half-Way House

Blandin House Museum

Lincoln lore and more in Macomb, Illinois!

Looking for Lincoln in Macomb

macomb's many murals!

The city of Macomb, IL is well-known for it's connection to Abraham Lincoln and to the creator of Monopoly, Lizzie Magie, but it's gaining eyeballs for something else: murals! Murals are poulating spaces around Macomb thanks to the creation of the Macomb Mural Project in 2018. 

Beginning with the inaugural dedication of The Old Dairy Mural, the project was designed with the goal of inspiring other organizations and community members to create their own murals, and since 2018 at least one new mural a year has been unveiled in and around Macomb’s Historic Courthouse Square. We're excited about the project catching on throughout Forgottonia’s McDonough County.

In this Adventure we'll be visiting Macomb's mesmerizing murals, from their Old Dairy mural full of cows and cream to their C.T. Vivian mural visiting the vital moments from Vivian's life. Are you ready to see some awe-inspiring artistic expressions?

The Old Dairy Cafe has been a Macomb staple for over ten years, and the new-ish mural on its side has made it even more popular. Fifteen feet high and sixty feet long, the colorful display on the north face of the building shows off the Old Dairy’s mascot, a black and white cow with a ball, while signs advertise their coffee, pie, and milkshakes. Between all of these tasty treats are Macomb landmarks, like the water tower, and famed Macomb residents, saxophonist “Big” Al Sears, General Alexander Macomb, Commander Thomas MacDonough, and Monopoly inventor Lizzie Magie. 

Local Western Illinois University awarded a $2,000 grant to the City of Macomb Downtown Development committee, who then worked with the Macomb Area Convention and Visitors Bureau to find a space for the mural. Once the owner of The Old Dairy agreed to let her shop be painted, the team reached out to WIU for an artist and found Professor of Art Bill Howard. Howard designed the mural with help from former WIU Professor of Art Emeritus Mike Mahoney and locals.

“This is an effort of the WIU Art Department, the College of Fine Arts and Communication, and the city of Macomb to bring together kind of a community effort,” said Howard. “To bring in some tourism, to decorate the downtown, to showcase some of the local talent here and showcase the local community who really wants to be involved in kind of transforming the downtown area into a site to come and see.”

“It’s a relief to see it done. ...In a certain sense it’s like, wow, I can’t believe we pulled this off. We were in the planning stages and given the scale, the enormity of the task, there were times when I thought ‘How long is this really going to take?’ But we pulled through in a relatively short amount of time,” said Mahoney.

The inaugural mural for the Macomb Murals Project was a huge success. To complete this stop, hit the 'guess' button below to confirm your location and a prize will pop up with an offer from The Old Dairy Cafe. 

Old Dairy Café Mural

Across the street, directly parallel to the Old Dairy mural, is artist Emily Roberts’ unique and environmentally friendly Be Kind to All mural. Inspired by the C.T. Vivian mural, this positive message took over eight months to complete and was entirely created using recycled plastic bottle caps.

Unveiled on May 31st, 2024, Roberts' creation is the newest addition to Macomb's Mural Project. It stands at roughly 8-feet by 32-feet and utilizes close to 30,000 bottle caps, many donated by the local community.  Roberts says, "There are beautiful murals that are thought-provoking and done by professional artists. Though I'm not a professional, I still want to add beauty artistically to the town. I hope my mural will inspire others in the community to do so as well."

To complete this stop, snap a selfie with the mural using the Camera icon below and share it online tagging @forgottonia.macomb
#MacombManyMurals!

Be Kind to All Mural

From the Be Kind to All mural, turn and walk to the corner of South Lafayette Street and West Washington Street. Then, cross Lafayette and walk east on the south sidewalk of West Washington Street. On your right will be Western Illinois Museum. Look at the side of the building to your right and look for a black garage door with white and green paint on it. Once you’ve found it, stand in front of it - you’ve arrived at the What You Feed Will Grow Mural!

This mural was created by Macomb native Tanner Woodford, who grew up in Macomb and gained an interest in visual arts after getting the chance to experiment with photography. He soon began to photograph Chicago performers, musicians, and artists, later designing album covers and websites for many of those bands. After studying design at Arizona State University, Woodford returned to Chicago with the goal of creating a museum where designers could connect and collaborate, which led to the founding of The Design Museum of Chicago in 2012. Woodford continues to serve as founder and executive director of the museum, and he works to make design tools accessible for everyone, from tourists to high school students to organizations and more. He has also been teaching at the Art Institute of Chicago since 2014. 

In 2021 he returned to his hometown of Macomb to paint a mural for WIU. “I begged to come back and do this project. I’m so excited to contribute something to the Macomb culture,” Woodford said. “I interned at the Western Illinois Museum when I was 16 years old so it’s a little part of my history as well. I’m thrilled to be here working on this.”

Woodford painted the ten feet by twelve feet mural in his usual optimistic and typographic style. The mural is on a metal garage door on the exterior of the museum and was painted with help from two Macomb High School Students.

To complete this stop, hit the 'next' button to move on.

What You Feed Will Grow Mural

Next, head east on West Washington Street until you come to South Randolph Street and turn left. Walk north on South Randolph for 0.3 miles, passing the town square on your left, and look for the Wells Fargo Advisors building on your right. When you see it, look to your left. You should see a colorful mural. Cross the street and stand before it - you’ve arrived at the Sports Corner Mural!

Sports Corner is a bar and grill in Macomb dedicated to serving up good pizza and to supporting Macomb’s local teams, especially Macomb’s Little League and Softball teams. On July 30th, 2023 they unveiled a new mural on the side of their building depicting a larger-than-life version of a bookshelf filled with Macomb sports memorabilia. Local teams, the Western Illinois University Leathernecks, the Spoon River College Snappers, the Northwestern Huskies, and the Macomb High School Bombers are featured, along with teams from schools that have been closed, the Western High Cardinals and the Colchester Indians. Also featured is Red Miller, an NFL coach that grew up in Macomb, the City Band of Macomb, and multiple Monopoly tokens. This amazing mural was once again painted and designed by Bill Howard with assistance from local volunteers.

To complete this stop, snap a photo with your favorite section of the mural and share it online tagging @forgottonia.macomb
#MacombManyMurals!

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