Sad news: the Ray Bradbury Experience Museum in Ray's home town of Waukegan, Illinois, has announced that it is permanently closing. This sad news follows a tough few years - including the pandemic, of course, in which the RBEM has struggled to establish and maintain its presence. This was especially true after the Museum lost its downtown exhibition space.
Waukegan's historic Carnegie Library is currently being renovated, so as to serve as the new home to the Historical Society. I understand that a section of the building's interior will feature a display of books bequeathed by Ray to the city - so there will be something for Bradbury tourists to seek out in the downtown area.
(And please note that the Ray Bradbury Center in Indiana is unaffected by the closure of RBEM. The two organisations (RBEM and RBC) are not connected, except in spirit.)
Below is the full text of the announcement from the Museum committee chair, Sandy Petroshius.
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RBEM Announces Closing
Ray Bradbury to “Live Forever” in Green Town
In
2017 a group of dedicated volunteers came together to honor Ray
Bradbury in his hometown Waukegan, Illinois, with an interactive museum.
As the Ray Bradbury Experience Museum Committee, we operated the museum
out of a space in downtown Waukegan, donated by the Greater Waukegan
Development Coalition.
Now,
after much consideration, the RBEM Committee has decided to officially
close in May 2023. This decision followed challenging realities. COVID
was a daunting obstacle. Many donors shifted their attention to other,
more pressing social needs. In addition, it was immensely difficult to
secure a much-needed permanent location in downtown Waukegan.
Over
the years, we worked with museum designers to develop plans for the
future museum. At the same time, the RBEM Committee and volunteers
welcomed visitors to events, readings, performances, and exhibits in
Waukegan and at national and regional conventions. We presented Ray
Bradbury programs, online and in-person, for local and regional schools
and libraries. A highlight event was the August 22, 2020, celebration of
the Centennial of Ray Bradbury’s birth in Waukegan.
April
2023 marked our final program. Partnering with the Waukegan Public
Library and the Waukegan Historical Society and funded by an Illinois
Humanities grant, we presented Explore Ray Bradbury, a weekend of
multi-media and hands-on engagement with Bradbury’s classic books and
themes. Excited visitors of all ages heard Bradbury stories, created
Bradbury-themed crafts, invented banned book slogans and pins, and
experienced a virtual reality journey to the International Space
Station.
While
our vision of an interactive Ray Bradbury museum will not come to
fruition, Ray Bradbury’s legacy is flourishing in Waukegan. “Fantastical
Traveler,” the brilliant Ray Bradbury sculpture, greets everyone
outside the Waukegan Public Library at 128 County Street, with
Bradbury’s own typewriter on view inside. The historic Carnegie Library,
currently under renovation, will open as the Waukegan History Museum.
It will house Ray Bradbury’s personal collection of books.
Thank you to the RBEM Committee for your boundless dedication, creativity, expertise, and generosity.
Thank you to our “Visionary Contributors” listed below. Your support energized all our efforts.
Thank
you to so many others not listed, who supported RBEM’s vision and work
over the years by contributing thousands of hours volunteering,
professional expertise, in-kind donations of goods and services, and
communications. You made everything possible.
Thank
you to Ray Bradbury for your lifelong passion for writing and your
hundreds of stories. Your imagination inspired us from the very
beginning.
Ray, “live forever” in your beloved Green Town!
With heartfelt gratitude,
Sandy
Sandra Sarsha Petroshius, RBEM Committee Chair
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