Choosing The Illinois Quarter's Historic Site

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Apr 13, 2009 8:20PM

Remember the U.S. Mint's 50 States Quarter Program? Illinois' was issued in 2003 and featured a young Abe Lincoln against the background of the state outline, the Chicago skyline, and a prairie-scape. Well, the U.S. Mint is back at it again with a new quarter program, this time honoring the nation's historic parks and sites. According to the program's selection guidelines, "The program will honor the national park or other national site in each host jurisdiction deemed most appropriate in terms or natural or historic significance." The Trib reports that state leaders, including Gov. Quinn who will have the final choice, are mulling over their options.

We here at Chicagoist realize that there are many, many options when selecting such a historic site, so we thought we'd make it easier on them by offering our own list of sites to be considered for the program.

• Meigs Field
• The Jail Cell of several governors
• Blago's Front Lawn
• Sen. Burris' Tomb
• Wrigley Field's Harry Caray statue (with a dead goat)
• Any of the state parks or historic sites Blago closed thanks to the budget hole
• A scene from films The Dark Knight or Ferris Bueller, or from the television shows Perfect Strangers, e.r., or Good Times
• Block 37
• The hole in the ground known as the future site of The Chicago Spire
• A "FAIL" parking meter
• The Biograph Theater depicting the shooting of John Dillinger
• The Sears/Willis Tower
• The LaSalle Street TIF District

Feel free to share your suggestions in the comments.

Photo of Meigs Field by Mark Schaible/ AOPA