Money is still being raised to help run the Illinois State Museum in Springfield -- even though its doors have been closed to the public for three months. A not-for-profit that deals with grants and private donations continues to solicit, sending out pleas for donations in the mail.
The chair of the board, Guerry Suggs, says it’s mostly union employees still on the job.
“We have now obviously more time to do curation work because we don’t have to deal with the public,” Suggs said. “So the museum’s collections are in fact being maintained.”
The museum and its other facilities, like Dixon Mounds, closed in September as a result of the state’s budget stalemate. Republican Governor Bruce says the closure was necessary to save the $5 million annual cost of keeping it open.
Suggs says he is "hopeful" the museum will re-open when a budget is put in place.
As for if he has heard anyone who is not a politician say that closing the museum was a good idea?
"No. No. I can answer that one real easily,” Suggs said. “No one has been able to figure out why. Obviously, we are a pawn in this battle that is going on for the budget."
