Monday October 12th Pre-Conference Tours

Select Tour on Conference Registration

Tours are limited! 

Illinois State Capitol and State Museum

Explore the splendor, beauty and magnificence of the Illinois State Capitol! Marvel at the ornate chambers and learn about the history of how Springfield was chosen as the final spot to be the capitol city. The Illinois State Capitol mirrors the décor of the US Capitol in Washington DC, so close in décor that the movie Legally Blonde 2 starring Reese Witherspoon was filmed in the capitol. See the halls and chambers of where Elle Woods took Capitol Hill by storm!

The Illinois State Museum inspires exploration of Illinois' past and present to inform and enrich everyday life and to promote stewardship of cultural and natural resources for the future. The Museum's extensive collections and research activities provide the foundation for exhibitions and public programs that tell the story of the land, life, people, and art of Illinois.

Tour attendees will have time to explore local flavors during the day, so lunch will be on your own. Don’t worry — we’ll share a list of favorite nearby restaurants and dining recommendations closer to the event to help you plan your perfect lunch stop!

October 12, 9:30 am - 2:30 pm
Cost: $10.00
Includes: Guided Walking Tour 
Capacity: 60 adults

Lincoln’s Tomb and Illinois Military Museum

The Lincoln Tomb is the final resting place of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States; his wife Mary Todd Lincoln; and three of their four sons: Edward, William, and Thomas. It is located in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois. Constructed of granite, the tomb has a tall, story-and-a-half base in trapezoidal form, surmounted by an obelisk, with a semicircular receiving room entranceway on one end and a semicircular crypt or burial room opposite. On the exterior, four flights of balustraded stairs lead to a level terrace. The balustrade extends around the terrace to form a parapet, and there are several bronze statues, reliefs, and stone carvings located at the base of the obelisk. The obelisk rises 117 feet (36m) high. A bronze recasting of Gutzon Borglum's head of Lincoln stands on a pedestal in front of the entrance way. Make sure you stop for a photo op and rub Lincoln’s nose for good luck

Enjoy the Illinois State Military Museum with a private opening just for ESP. Preserving the heritage of the Illinois National Guard, the museum is committed to collecting, preserving, interpreting, and exhibiting the military artifacts associated with the citizen-soldier of Illinois. The exhibit includes rare items such as a target board shot at by President Lincoln, as well as vehicles, weapons, uniforms, equipment and photographs. The Citizen-Soldier exhibit features the military experiences of famous Illinois soldiers such as Carl Sandburg, Robert McCormick, John A. Logan and Abraham Lincoln.

End your tour day with lunch at a local pizza shop

October 12, 9:30 am - 1:30 pm
Cost: $25.00
Includes:  Transportation, Donation (Ticket Admittance), Lunch
Capacity: 28 adults

University of Illinois Campus Tour Morrow Plots, Feed Mill, Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony and Curtis Orchard

The Morrow Plots are named after the first dean of the college, Professor George Espy Morrow. Established in 1876, the plots are the oldest experimental crop field in America and the second oldest in the world - after the Rothamsted research station in England, established in 1843.

The plots were originally used to build the National Historic Landmark observatory and used green space. Only three of the original ten plots remain, and they are also protected as a National Historic Landmark. Research on the plots was instrumental in gaining knowledge on crop rotation, soil nutrient depletion, and the effects of synthetic and natural fertilizers. With more than 100 years of research, records of the Morrow Plots continue to provide valuable information for a variety of topics, including soil carbon sequestration and long-term effects of fertilizers on soil bacteria. Corn, wheat, soybeans and other crops are still grown on the plots to this day.

Experience Illinois’ new feed mill. The U of I mill is one of three in the United States. See how Illinois produces all of its own feed for the various livestock on campus.

The very heart of Japan House is the study of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. The tea ceremony has ancient roots in the culture of Japan. Urasenke is one of the main tea schools in Japan and Japan House is honored to be affiliated with the Urasenke Way of Tea.

The idea of a tea ceremony can sound mysterious, but at its most basic, a tea ceremony is merely a host preparing and sharing a bowl of tea with a guest. The ceremony has been ritualized over the centuries into an art form however, and is a practice that takes years and years to master. It is a fascinating peak into Japanese culture as well because it incorporates so many other Japanese art forms and aesthetics. For instance a tea ceremony can include shodo (calligraphy), or chabana (tea flower arrangements), or kaiseki (a formal tea dinner). So with this one art form, you can begin to find endless other lessons about Japanese culture.

The roots of the tea ceremony go back many, many centuries. Tea was being drunk for pleasure as early as the Tang Dynasty (618-907) but the most well known and revered figure in the history of the tea ceremony is Sen Rikyu (1522-1591) who put forth the four precepts of the Way of Tea: wa, kei, sei, jaku, or harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility.

The final stop on this tour will be an escape to the country at Curtis Orchard. This historic family-run farm in southwest Champaign features apples, pumpkins, outdoor activities and a large country store. Shop for specialty food items, take home their fresh apple cider, and try the famous donuts and pies. You can also enjoy a great meal at the Orhcard’s Flying Monkey Café. Your tour will come with a $20 voucher to use at the cafe for lunch or any other vendor outlets at the orchard.

October 12, 8:00 am - 3:30 pm
Cost: $60.00
Includes:  Transportation, Tickets, and Lunch
Capacity: 20 adults

Thursday October 15th Post-Conference Tours

Select Tour on Conference Registration

Tours are limited! 

Lincoln's Home

Tour attendees will have time to explore local flavors after the business meeting, so lunch will be on your own. Don’t worry — we’ll share a list of favorite nearby restaurants and dining recommendations closer to the event to help you plan your perfect lunch stop! If you go out to lunch near the visitors center, feel free to meet the group at the visitor center at 1:15 pm. All others will need to meet at the conference hotel at 1:00 pm for this tour. 

Abraham Lincoln believed in the ideal that everyone in America should have the opportunity to improve their economic and social condition. Lincoln’s life was the embodiment of that idea. We know him as the sixteenth president, but he was also a spouse, parent, and neighbor who experienced the same hopes, dreams, and challenges of life that are still experienced by many people today.

The site offers guided tours of the Lincoln Home, giving visitors a look into the Lincoln family during the seventeen years they lived in the house on the corner of Eighth and Jackson Streets. Visitors will get a glimpse into Lincoln’s life as a family man, as well as explore his rise as a successful lawyer and politician through the context of the Lincoln Home.

October 15, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Cost: $10.00
Includes: Guided Tour and Donation (Ticket)
Capacity: 30 adults