The National Railroad Hall of Fame project was officially announced earlier this week during a news conference Galesburg, Illinois.

Council chambers was filled with local and state officials, members of the Hall of Fame board, media and the president and senior associate of LaPaglia and Associates, the firm developing the master plan for the $60 million project.

The 84,500-square-foot Hall of Fame will be built on about 10 acres in Kiwanis Park, near East Main Street and Interstate 74.

Peter LaPaglia, president and founder of the consulting firm based in Murfreesboro, Tenn., said he and senior associate David Estabrook are often asked to rate museums on a scale from 1 to 10. LaPaglia said based on the support of the community, the Galesburg City Council and the "can-do attitude" of the hall's board, "I would have to say this is a 12. ... (Railroads) are as national as baseball, cowboys and country music."

LaPaglia and Associates has worked on everything from the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance in Bristol, Tenn./Va.; National Cowboy and Western Heritage Center in Oklahoma City; Louisville Slugger Museum in Louisville, Ky.; Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, Miss.; and others across the country.

"We're going to create a home here for everyone who has worked in railroading and who wants to work in railroading," LaPaglia said. "It's the story of the past, the story of the present, but more importantly, it's the story of the future."

LaPaglia said the story will be told in two multi-sensory theaters. Upstairs, the exhibits also will use technology to tell the story of the railroads from a human perspective.

"Once (visitors) leave this building, we want them to feel they have lived with railroading all their lives," LaPaglia said. "It's American legends like Casey Jones. It's a subject we celebrate in song story and in film. ... that glow in a child's eyes when they see a train go by. It's hard for me not to get emotional about a topic this wonderful."

Jay Matson, chairman of the Hall of Fame board, said Tuesday was the beginning of the community campaign. Local business and individual contributors have already pledged $250,000 to pay for the services of LaPaglia and Associates. Matson added the news conference also was the beginning of the transition into the national campaign and fund-raising, expected to last a minimum of two years.

Sal Garza, senior account manager for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity said, "DCEO has committed $200,000 to this project." He said more money could be coming. Organizers are hoping the bulk of the money will come from the railroad industry.

The Galesburg City Council on Monday directed city staff to begin preparing paperwork for the city to give the museum $150,000 of tax increment financing II funds.

"The sun really shines bright on Galesburg this morning," Mayor Gary Smith said. "I urge all citizens to support the National Railroad Hall of Fame with both their talents and their financial commitments."

The mayor added that the Hall of Fame is "a project with the ability to redefine our community."

"Today what you see is a lot of dreams, a lot of vision, but I think it can become a reality," said Eric Hanson, the vice chairman of the Hall of Fame board. "This is a tremendous, tremendous opportunity for our community."

"This is the first day in the rest of the life of this institution," LaPaglia said.