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Lakeview Planetarium A Link to the Stars
Amelia Clark Planetariums provide a way to teach astronomy in a style that will interest audiences young and old. Throughout the years, planetarium employees have designed increasingly better programs. At the Lakeview Planetarium in Peoria, for example, there are positive changes that are evident. Since Lake- view Planetarium opened in 1963 it has continued to improve with new ownership and by adding features that deal with the Illinois community and local education. To get an idea of how the planetarium might develop in the future, it is important to understand the origin of Lakeview. Groundbreaking occurred on April 10, 1962; R.P. Van Zandt, the chairman of the planning committee, defined the goal of the new planetarium: "It must serve our community with an understanding and it must be interesting," he insisted when the planetarium started. Although costs were lower than today, an entire committee was enlisted to raise funds for the project. Construction was completed in the spring of 1963, and as soon as the doors opened and the first show was completed, Lakeview Planetarium gained popularity. Astronomy is now an important component in the educational system, but that was not always true. In the 1940s astronomy was removed as a required course and became an extra credit option. Supposedly, this change was due to the belief that astronomy was not significant to students. Astronomy, however, became more popular in the 1950s and 1960s as a result of the competition between the United States and the Soviet Union to reach the moon. Two-thirds of the planetarium's visitors are now students on school field trips. Astronomy is a valuable science, and a planetarium is a key helper in meeting this goal. Sheldon Schafer says, "It's a way to do eyes-on astronomy." Lakeview Planetarium has expanded with the help of new ownership. The previous owners were the Johnsons, a husband-and-wife team who operated the planetarium. The Johnsons eventually retired, and in 1967 Sheldon Schafer assumed their position. Schafer had great experience as a science major in college and went on to study for a career in planetarium management. First, he worked at a major planetarium in Yonkers, New York. For thirty-one years Schafer has put his knowledge to work for the Lakeview Planetarium. Since Sheldon Schafer came to work at the planetarium, the programs and exhibitions have improved. Starlab has been a considerable segment of Lakeview Planetarium's success. Starlab is Lakeview's state-of-the-art portable planetarium. This ten-and-a-half-foot vinyl dome includes technologies such as a temperature monitor, star projector, and cassettes to accompany the lessons presented. Starlab cost seven thousand dollars and even though rental fees are low, they have more than compensated for the considerable expense. The program has been very popular. For example, in 1998, the Clear Water Celebration was attended by more than four hundred children. Schools now realize the educational value of Starlab, and the reservations are mounting from districts wanting to use the mini-planetarium. This trend is catching on; Lakeview is now one of two planetariums in the state with a Starlab. To ease understanding of the solar system, Lakeview has created a community solar system. It is the largest scale model in the world. Some asteroids and comets have worldwide orbits. In Peoria, however, the sun is positioned at Lakeview Museum and Planetarium, followed by Mercury at School's the Rule in the Metro Center. Venus is positioned in United States Cellular on North Sheridan, and Earth at Beachler's Amoco at University and War Memorial Drive. WMBD-TV is Mars, after which is Jupiter at Olin Hall, Bradley University, Saturn at Illinois Central College, and Uranus in Pekin, Illinois, at the Sundance Sundial in Mineral Springs Park. Neptune is Roanoke Motors just west of the city of Roanoke, and finally, Pluto, at Good's Furniture is located forty miles away in Kewanee, Illinois. Lakeview Planetarium has a major activity called Project Starwalk. Starwalk brings schools and planetariums together. It includes lessons that can be added into regular science classes. Pat Olmstead created this project in the 1960s. It originated in New Castle, Delaware, where the headquarters are located. Project Starwalk provides lessons designed for each school district. At Lakeview Planetarium many different projects have sparked an interest in astronomy for thirty-six years. These changes have been evident since the first day it opened. With its many different shows, activities, lessons, and a highly educated operator, Lakeview Planetarium has become a link to the stars.—[From Art Andrews, "Lakeview Planetarium Director Hopes for Astronomy Revival," Journal Star, April 17, 1979; Marsha Hausser, "Lakeview Likely Successor to National Project Starwalk," Journal Star, March 30, 1985; Norma Hays, "Shel-
don Schafer: He Combines the Media and the Stars," Observer, April 28, 1962; Jerry Klein, "Planetarium Ground Broken," Journal Star Evening Edition, April 11, 1962; Internet <http://www.cyberdesic.com/lakeview/main.htm>; David Polk, "Lakeview's Stars Hit the Road," Journal Star, Feb. 5, 1985; student historian's interview with Sheldon Schafer, Sept. 16, 1998.]
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