Countdown to state's bicentennial celebration to start in Kaskaskia

The 100-day countdown to the Illinois Bicentennial Celebration will begin in Randolph County, the state's bicentennial commission announced Friday.

In naming historic Kaskaskia Island as the opening site of the countdown to the state's 200th birthday party, the commission is acknowledging what Randolph County has always insisted - that this is "Where Illinois Began."

"This is the state recognizing where Illinois began," County Commissioner Marc Kiehna said Friday. "This will highlight to the rest of the state this region's important role in our state's history."

A series of public events will unfold starting at 9 a.m. Aug. 26 - Constitution Day in Illinois. State, county and local officials, along with state historians, will have a ceremonial signing of the 1818 Illinois Constitution, in front of the original courthouse near the Liberty Bell of the West shrine.

Other celebrations will occur along the Kaskaskia/Cahokia Trail, involving local re-enactor groups, the Pierre Menard house (home to the state's first lieutenant governor), the Fort de Chartres State Historical Site, cannons and more.

All events are free and the public is encouraged to take part.

The 100-day countdown will ultimately end on Dec. 3, the day Illinois was federally recognized as a state, and the official start to the Bicentennial Celebration.

The countdown will be commemorated each day through videos about Illinois history produced by Illinois high school and college students and posted on www.Illinois200.com. Students interested in making historical videos should start with the website for details.

Randy Dunn, SIU System president and the Bicentennial Commission co-chairman, is scheduled to speak at the Aug. 26 event. He said he is proud that one of Illinois' first bicentennial events will be at Kaskaskia, site of the state's first capital.

"The area is so closely intertwined with the history of Illinois, and it will be exciting to be part of this celebration," he said in a news release.

Kiehna said Gov. Bruce Rauner has been invited to take part in the Kaskaskia celebration on Aug. 26, especially since he'll be in the Du Quoin the day before for the Du Quoin State Fair parade.