Macomb selected to receive $40,000 grant to honor inventor of ‘Monopoly’

MACOMB, Ill. — The Macomb Area Convention and Visitors Bureau will receive a $40,000 grant from the Tourism Attractions and Festivals grant program from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity as part of a $22.5 million investment for nearly 90 local tourism festivals and attractions across Illinois.

The money will be used to honor Monopoly game inventor Elizabeth “Lizzie” Magie, who was born in Macomb in 1866 and was a key feature of this season’s “American Experience: Ruthless: Monopoly’s Secret History” on PBS.

The initial phase of the project will see the four corners of Macomb’s downtown square displayed with sculptures reflecting Magie and her game. The large sculptures, to be created by Gabe Stevens of Masterpiece Customs, will reflect the look and design of Monopoly’s silver game pieces — a giant sized spinning dice, an Abraham Lincoln stovepipe hat, Magie’s game board and a life-sized sculpture of Lizzie Magie herself. It will include the ability to play the game via an app around Macomb’s qquare which remarkably resembles the original Monopoly game board plat. The project is slated for a late spring 2024 unveiling to coordinate with Magie’s birthdate.

In a press release, MACVB board chair Dave Dorsett said, “MACVB is gratified to see the hard work being done to promote Unforgettable Forgottonia and our Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area with this grant. The stories being told are important and help to make Macomb an interesting and enjoyable destination.”

“We’re very proud our MACVB staff and Monopoly team put together this award-winning grant proposal and eagerly anticipate the dedication of this wonderful project next spring in downtown Macomb,” Macomb Mayor Mike Inman said.

The $22.5 million in Illinois Tourism Attractions and Festivals grants provides funding to localities, organizations and businesses for tourism-related improvements, events and activities. Festivals will receive $5 million, and $17.5 million will support attractions, museums and live performance venues and more. The Macomb Area Convention and Visitors Bureau’s application was selected through a competitive process, which required demonstrating how the award would help businesses in the surrounding area, as well as the project’s ability to attract visitors for overnight stays.