- Home
- Explore Waukegan
- Ray Bradbury Centennial
Ray Bradbury Centennial
RAY BRADBURY CENTENNIAL FILM
Get to know Ray Bradbury through this short film created at the request of the City by documentarian and film artist Mikalya Khramov. If you cannot see the film through Facebook, see it on the City's official YouTube channel.
WAUKEGAN PUBLIC LIBRARY RAY BRADBURY BOOK CLUB
Death is a Lonely Business - October 28, 6pm (Central Time)
DEDICATING BRADBURY'S GREEN TOWN WAUKWAY
At 4:51 on August 22nd, Mayor Sam Cunningham and City officials dedicated the Bradbury's Green Town WaukWay at the corner of St. James Street and Washington Street. Bradbury grew up on South St. James and he often spent time at his grandparents' house, which is on the corner. The WaukWay will include paths Bradbury took around the City, especially to the Carnegie Library at 1 N. Sheridan Road. The official signs will be put up over the next year or so. Below, City of Waukegan Director of Public Relations, David Motley, describes the WaukWay and the importance of it.
Below, Mayor Cunningham holds the new sign which will be located here, at St. James and Washington Streets, and through the greater downtown area. Also pictured are City Treasurer Dr. John Schwab, 7th Ward Ald. Felix Rivera, 5th Ward Ald. Edith Newsome, 1st Ward Ald. Sylvia Sims Bolton (and her grandson), and Director of Public Relations David Motley.
RAY BRADBURY EXPERIENCE MUSEUM
You were welcome to visit the Ray Bradbury Experience Museum on his 100th birthday! Reservations were required to adhere to COVID-19 guidelines, but the visit was free.
The Ray Bradbury Centennial Poster Project honors Ray and educate students (and everyone) about his life and writing. The Virtual Green Town Tour goes LIVE on RBEM's website August 22nd, too! Take an exclusive journey to some of the historical and literary sites made immortal in Bradbury stories like Something Wicked This Way Comes, Dandelion Wine, Farewell Summer, and more.
Also, RBEM heard from a WFMT's Midnight Special host, Marilyn Rae Beyer, who is a huge Bradbury fan! The Midnight Special on August 22nd (actually 9pm to midnight) will be all things Ray Bradbury: she'll play Studs Terkel interview excerpts, song selections reflecting the subjects of Ray's stories, novels and screenplays. Turn the lights down low, tune in and turn on.
WAUKEGAN PUBLIC LIBRARY HOSTS RAY BRADBURY COLLECTION MINIATURE SHOWCASE SERIES
Every Tuesday at 1pm, the award-winning Waukegan Public Library's Reference Library's Gabriel Scuglik presents new items from our Bradbury Collection on the Library's Facebook page. Check out the Virtual Showcase.
WAUKEGAN CELEBRATES RAY BRADBURY CENTENNIAL WITH PREVIEW OF NEW MUSEUM
Check out the Daily Herald article covering Ray's Centennial! In addition, the Green Town Virtual Tour was added to the Ray Bradbury Experience Museum's website!
(Photo Credit: Joe Lewnard | Daily Herald Staff Photographer)
RAY BRADBURY, AN AMAZING LOOK AT THE WORLD
Explica celebrates Ray Bradbury with different views about a more than current literature.
(Illustration credit: Explica)
WAUKEGAN HISTORY MUSEUM COMPANION APP - BRADBURY WAUKWAY
The Waukegan History Museum Companion App will include a Bradbury WaukWay Scavenger Hunt! Here are instructions for downloading the app and getting engaged in the hunt!
How to Play the Ray Bradbury WaukWay “Pieces of the Past” Scavenger Hunt:
1. Download the Waukegan Park District App.
2. From Main Menu or Activities, Select History Companion. History Companion can also be accessed on computer at www.waukeganhistorical.org
3. On the History Companion, click the last tab (Bradbury – has a picture of a book)
4. The locations for the scavenger hunt will now we available to view.
5. Click on one of the locations to find information (text and audio, pictures, and a map.)
6. Visit the Bradbury location and find the “Bradbury 100” sticker that contains the “Pieces of the Past” code. Each Bradbury location has 1 code to be found and entered.
7. Enter the code in the App by clicking the button at the top of each location titled “Enter Code Here!” Click on that button to enter the code found at each location.
8. For general public: Select “No” you are not a student in the Waukegan School District. Once “No” is clicked, you will be asked to enter First Name, Last Name, email address, and enter the Code.
9. For students: You will have to select “Yes” if you are a student in the Waukegan School District. Once “Yes” is clicked, you will be asked to enter First Name, Last Name, select Grade and School from a drop-down list, and enter the Code.
10. Click submit and go to the next Bradbury location to find the next code!
RAY BRADBURY COLORING BOOK
Not Your Ordinary Coloring Book! Stop or contact by the Ray Bradbury Experience Museum for this unique, original art, inspired by Ray Bradbury's classic stories, will startle and entertain. The illustrations were created by talented artist Paul D. Rodriguez. All merchandise is available on RBEM's website.
PITCH IN 100 FOR RAY'S 100TH
Give 100! It can be 100 $1’s or $5’s or $10’s or you can give the equivalent of 100 quarters or dimes. You get the idea! Once you donate. His birthday might be over, but help Ray Live Forever!
PROCLAMATION "RAY BRADBURY DAY IN WAUKEGAN - AUGUST 22, 2020 AND BEYOND" READ AND PASSED AT THE AUGUST 3, 2020 CITY COUNCIL MEETING
“Ray Bradbury Day in Waukegan – August 22, 2020 and Beyond”
WHEREAS, Ray Douglas Bradbury was born on August 22, 1920 in Waukegan, Illinois; and
WHEREAS, Ray Bradbury is one of the most celebrated authors among 20th and 21st century American writers and is internationally recognized for his countless works of literature in the genre of fantasy, horror, science fiction, and mystery; and
WHEREAS, Ray Bradbury is best known for his novels Fahrenheit 451, The Martian Chronicles, The Illustrated Man, Something Wicked This Way Comes, and Dandelion Wine; and
WHEREAS, Ray Bradbury was the recipient of the National Medal of Arts; and
WHEREAS, Ray Bradbury has received an Emmy award; and
WHEREAS, Ray Bradbury has received the French Order of Arts and Letters medal; and
WHEREAS, Ray Bradbury was presented a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; and
WHEREAS, Ray Bradbury has received countless other awards and accolades because of his expansive body of work in the fields of literature, television, and film; and
WHEREAS, Ray Bradbury helped design the Spaceship Earth attraction at Walt Disney World’s Epcot Center; and
WHEREAS, Ray Bradbury worked as a consultant for NASA; and
WHEREAS, Ray Bradbury has an asteroid named in his honor, "9766 Bradbury;" and
WHEREAS, Ray Bradbury is honored by a crater on the moon called "Dandelion Crater;" and
WHEREAS, Ray Bradbury is even memorialized on the planet Mars where the Mars Curiosity landing site is named “Bradbury Landing;”
WHEREAS, Waukegan plays a pivotal role in many of his literary works as the fictional community known as Green Town, Illinois; and
WHEREAS, Waukegan is home to unique destinations and artistic endeavors named in tribute to Ray Bradbury, including the Dandelion Gallery, Green Town Tavern, Nightshade and Dark’s Pandemonium Brewery, Green Town on the Rocks, as well as the Ray Bradbury Experience Museum; and
WHEREAS, Ray Bradbury has a star in Waukegan’s Walk of Stars Park; and
WHEREAS, Ray Bradbury Park in Waukegan is dedicated in his honor and was designated a National Literary Landmark in 2019; and
WHEREAS, the Bradbury Room in the Waukegan Public Library is a tribute to him and to his love of books; and
WHEREAS, Waukegan Park District’s Annual Dandelion Wine Fine Arts Festival and the Waukegan Public Library’s Annual Ray Bradbury Storytelling Festival are tributes to Ray Bradbury’s vital impact on our community and to his long-lasting legacy; and
WHEREAS, “Fantastical Traveler” a 12-foot-tall statue of Ray Bradbury astride a rocket ship was unveiled at the Waukegan Public Library on his birthday in 2019; and
WHEREAS, it was in our community, on the shores of Lake Michigan in 1932, that carnival entertainer Mr. Electrico inspired Ray Bradbury to "Live forever!"; and
WHEREAS, Ray Bradbury seems to have figured out exactly how to do so; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Mayor Cunningham and the members or the Waukegan City Council do hereby FOREVER proclaim August 22, as Ray Bradbury Day in Waukegan, Illinois.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Waukegan and community partners will dedicate a walkable corridor of Washington Street from his boyhood home at 11 S. St. James Street to the Carnegie Library at 1 N. Sheridan that will be FOREVER known as “Bradbury’s Green Town WaukWay” to recognize his well-travelled path as well as to serve as a lasting legacy to this pioneer of our modern era and beyond in celebration of his 100th birthday.
DATED THIS 3rd DAY OF AUGUST, 2020.
WAUKEGAN CITY VEHICLE STICKER
The City's vehicle sticker, on sale in early January to Waukegan residents, is also reflective of Ray Bradbury's importance in his "Green Town."
CARNEGIE LIBRARY TO BE WAUKEGAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEW SITE
In partnership with the Waukegan Historical Society, the Waukegan Park District is excited to announce that it has officially acquired the historic Carnegie Library from the City of Waukegan. The Carnegie Library, located at 1 N. Sheridan Road, was made famous by Ray Bradbury in a variety of stories, possibly most especially in Something Wicked This Way Comes. Designated as a Waukegan Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Carnegie Library will become the new site for the Waukegan Historical Society’s expanded history programming, archives, collections, exhibits, and research library. The building will also be used by the Waukegan Park District for programs, classes, events, and registrations. See the full Waukegan Park District press release. Also, check out the full Lake County News-Sun story.
(Photo credit: Waukegan Park District)
OTHER, MOSTLY LOCAL VENUES AND EVENTS HONOR RAY
According to Rolling Stone, dozens of authors, actors and more take part in reading of Fahrenheit 451 on what would have been Bradbury’s 100th birthday! The read-a-thon site streamed until September 5th, so everyone had plenty of time to hear the whole book. It was amazing and, if they do it again for Ray's 101st birthday, we hope Neil Gaiman elects to read the whole book to us.
(Photo credit: Michael Montfort/Pix/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
The Waukegan Park District's Ray Bradbury Dandelion Wine Fine Arts Festival is the unofficial kickoff to the summer festival season. Held in beautiful Bowen Park, the festival includes music, dance, readings, and visual arts. The event is generally held the first Saturday in June.
Dandelion Gallery at 109 S. Genesee Street took the name as a nod to Ray. Dandelion Gallery is a non-profit artist cooperative located on South Genesee Street in Waukegan’s growing Art & Entertainment District. The Gallery strives for personal artistic growth and professionalism and is dedicated to exhibiting quality art. It is an artist run gallery committed to promoting art, artists, and art education in the community. In collaboration with the city of Waukegan, the Dandelion Gallery hopes to revive, recharge, and reinvigorate the downtown area through exposition of fine art, music and culture.
Across the street from Dandelion Gallery is Green Town, a restaurant and pub, at 110 S. Genesee Street.
This year Green Town Tavern opened Green Town on the Rocks, an outdoor venue in the Harbor District located at 175 N. Harbor Place. Green Town on the Rocks regularly features live music and food trucks during the summer season.
Some of the local restaurants and pubs are honoring Ray's 100th birthday in their own ways. For instance, Green Town Tavern, located at 110 S. Genesee Street, created a drink named the Bradberry, served at Happy Thyme Breakfast on Saturday mornings and on-demand otherwise.
The Waukegan Public Library invited everyone to a virtual book discussion of one of Ray's most famous books, Fahrenheit 451 that took place on this birthday.
Three Brothers Theatre did a digital performance of The Martian Chronicles. The Martian Chronicles follows a series of Earth travelers and their attempts to colonize Mars. Through multiple scenes we see the devastating effects of the Earthen colonizers.
The Waukegan Public Library offered everyone the chance to show their love for Ray Bradbury and support the library by purchasing a tee designed exclusively for them.
And, of course, Nightshade and Dark Pandemonium Brewing, located at 216 W. Clayton Street, is all about Ray! From their name to the names of their beers and their penchant for showing Ray Bradbury movies.
RAY BRADBURY PARK - NATIONAL LITERARY LANDMARK
Ray Bradbury Park was designated a Literary Landmark on Saturday, March 16, 2019. The unveiling ceremony began at 4:51 pm in honor of Bradbury’s well-known novel Fahrenheit 451 (1953). Ray Bradbury Park, located in Bradbury’s “Green Town” neighborhood, played a major part of his childhood Waukegan upbringing and was referenced in his works Dandelion Wine, Something Wicked This Way Comes, and Farewell Summer. The dedication ceremony took place as part the 2019 Illinois Reads Book Festival, which honored Bradbury by welcoming 22 Illinois authors and illustrators to the Waukegan High School Brookside Campus. The authors participated in the festival with book signings and author sessions. Several interactive Bradbury-themed vendors, activity stations, and a Fahrenheit 451 production presented by Waukegan High School students made up the afternoon. See the full press release at American Library Association.
(Photo credit: Waukegan Park District, OTIS, ALA)
WALK THROUGH RAY BRADBURY'S GREEN TOWN AS WRITTEN BY RAY!
FANTASTICAL TRAVELER - RAY BRADBURY STATUE DEDICATE ON HIS 99TH BIRTHDAY
From the Lake County News-Sun article: "The 12-foot-tall statue of Ray Bradbury astride a rocket ship unveiled Thursday evening outside the Waukegan Public Library honors “a literary icon and a beloved Waukeganite who gifted us his ever expanding universe of imagination, intellect and optimism for our future,” its sculptor said.
"The dedication was the culmination of a years-long effort that began a little more than five years ago over lunch at Louie’s Restaurant in Waukegan, said Richard Lee, the Waukegan Public Library’s former executive director and a co-chair of the committee that led the statue’s fundraising effort." Read the whole article!
(Photo credit: sculptor Zachary Oxman)
AUGUST ARTWAUK - ONE WEEK UNTIL RAY'S 100TH!
ArtWauk is a monthly explosion and exploration of the arts in downtown Waukegan, a place Ray Bradbury frequented as a young child. ArtWauk is held the third Saturday of every month and this month it falls one week before Ray's 100th. A number of artists are honoring Ray and their works will be at Dandelion Gallery at 109 S. Genesee Street. Additionally, in prints of artist David Motley's Ray Bradbury works will be available for free at local participating venues.
GREEN TOWN: A TRIBUTE TO RAY BRADBURY
Sean Anderson created a video tribute to Ray in 2017. Much of his footage of Green Town is in the winter, a season many of us do not associate with Ray.
DCFANDOME FREE FOR 24 HOURS
We can't prove that DCFANDOME will be free for 24 hours as a salute to Ray, but it's one heck of a coincidence.
WAUKEGAN PUBLIC LIBRARY IS HOSTING RAY BRADBURY TRIVIA FUNDRAISER
Do you know Ray like we know Ray? Find out at the Library’s Ray Bradbury Virtual Trivia Night Fundraiser on Friday, August 21ST at 7pm - sign up by Wednesday, August 19th. Get your team together and put your knowledge of Ray Bradbury to the test! You can also sign up as an individual and we will assign you to a team on the day of the event. Registration is closed.
WAUKEGAN PUBLIC LIBRARY WRITING CONTEST
In honor of Ray Bradbury’s 100th Birthday, the Waukegan Public Library held a writing contest in his style of genre. A horror or science fiction work about a global pandemic/disaster/phenomenon that features a happy conclusion or twist in the end. The winning entry will receive a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury himself! Hear Waukegan Public Library's Sam Beringer read the winning entry entitled Essence.
BRADBURY BEYOND APOLLO - JONATHAN ELLER'S FINAL RAY BRADBURY BIOGRAPHY IN THE TRILOGY - RELEASED!
In a ScienceMag,org blog post, Ingrid Ockert starts her review of Bradbury Beyond Apollo with:
One hundred years ago this month, the poet laureate of Mars was born in sleepy Waukegan, Illinois. To a generation of baby boomers, Ray Bradbury was best known for his masterpiece The Martian Chronicles (1950), a lyrical collection of stories that wondered how humans might adapt to life on the red planet. His poetic descriptions captured the world’s collective imagination, spurring the development of space technologies, including Mars-bound satellites and rovers. As Norman Corwin noted in 1971, “[Bradbury] got to Mars before the scientists…No amount of scientific data, no logs and extrapolations of computer codes, will ever dislodge him from that planet.”
To mark the centennial of Bradbury’s birth, Jonathan Eller, a professor of English at Indiana University and director of the Center for Ray Bradbury Studies, has written Bradbury Beyond Apollo, the final biography in a trilogy that explores Bradbury’s life. Eller’s thoughtful narrative is meticulous, offering more than 300 pages of analysis and snippets from Bradbury’s unpublished letters and manuscripts to document every moment of the writer’s golden years, starting with the launch of Apollo 15 in 1971 and ending with his final days in 2012. Along the way, Eller offers readers insights into how Bradbury established his legacy as a luminary of the Space Age.
HEAR THE BACK STORY OF RAY BRADBURY THEATRE
WGN's Larry Potash talks about the early days of cable and Ray Bradbury Theatre.
LEARN MORE ABOUT RAY
Visit the Ray Bradbury site to learn more about this author, artist and visionary.
(Photo credit: RayBradbury.com)