Pekin, IL - The Marigold City
Posted by: 
NorStar
N 40° 34.320 W 089° 39.056
16T E 275604 N 4494624
This granite sign faces west toward the drivers coming over the Illinois River bridge and has a flower bed in front of it in the shape of the state of Illinois.
Waymark Code: WM4TMA
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 09/28/2008
Views: 14
Pekin, Illinois, is a medium-sized city along the Illinois River, and is the county seat for Tazewell County. To greet people coming over the Illinois River going east on Ill. Route 9, the city has installed a granite sign and flower bed in the island between the road lanes.
The sign says "Welcome to Pekin: The Marigold City."
The flower bed is in the shape of Illinois - not that the drivers would be able to recognize that. In fact, there was a lot of road construction at the time of the visit (Sept. '08), so drivers have to keep their eyes on the road!
According to Wikipedia for the city, Pekin started being associated with Marigolds in the 1970s, when their U.S. Senator, Everett Dirksen, tried to make the Marigold the national flower. Though his effort failed, Pekin became known as the Marigold Capital of the world. They now have an annual Marigold Festival held on the weekend after Labor Day.
After passing this sign, there is another sign that says "Hometown of ASTRONAUT Scott Altman."
Type of community: Town
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Visit Instructions:
More pictures of the sign would be great. Try and take a picture of yourself with it if you can!