Illinois is skipping the Trump-backed 250th anniversary celebration on the National Mall.

The big picture: Illinois is among several Democratic-led states opting out of the Great American State Fair, a centerpiece of the national 250th anniversary celebration that has increasingly come to be associated with President Trump's agenda.

The states: Illinois, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and North Carolina.

The reason: States have cited high participation costs and lack of interest from potential sponsors. Some also cited political concerns.

State of play: "Gov. Pritzker decided last year to not utilize state resources or delegates, anticipating Trump's politicization of America 250 activities," a spokesperson for the governor's office tells Axios.

Reality check: Illinois won't have an official state exhibit, but it won't be entirely absent. The Peoria Riverfront Museum is participating independently.

• "The Peoria Riverfront Museum volunteered to represent Illinois at the Great American State Fair," a Pritzker spokesperson added. "The museum will build an Illinois-centric pavilion. State funds were not used to pay for the Museum's travel, registration or exhibit design and giveaways."

The intrigue: Freedom 250, a public-private partnership established through an executive order by President Trump, organized the fair and describes itself as nonpartisan.

• Freedom 250 built a pavilion for every state and territory, but participating states are responsible for designing, furnishing and shipping their own exhibits to Washington.

Zoom in: Illinois isn't sitting out the semiquincentennial altogether. The state has held its own yearlong America 250 events, awarded 250 public art grants and will join every state in a simultaneous public reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8.

Of note: The Great American State Fair runs through July 10.

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Although we skipped the Great American State Fair, we are part of "America's Time Capsule," which will be buried at Independence National Historical Park on July 4 and reopened in 2276.

Zoom in: Illinois sent a letter from Gov. JB Pritzker and the poem "Dear New Blood" from the state's Poet Laureate, Mark Turcotte.

• Turcotte is a member of the Anishinaabe–Turtle Mountain Band.

Zoom out: Several states sent letters and poems. We're not saying, Illinois, we phoned it in, but Maine sent a whale bone. Pretty cool.

• Florida sent a booklet about the Florida Senate, listing elected officials and the state's history. Kinda Civics 101, but ok.

Here is what we'd send to represent Illinois in 2026:

🏳️‍🌈 Carrie: A Pride flag. Human rights have been under attack by the Trump administration, but I'm proud of how our state's leaders have tried to protect LGBTQ+ individuals.

📰 Monica: A hard copy of the Chicago Sun-Times and Tribune so people can remember how we used to get news.

📲 Justin: A phone with an Instagram reel preloaded showing the best of Caleb Williams comebacks. I'd also throw in a tin of Mindy's edibles and an Italian Beef sandwich from Al's. It'll hold.

Tell us: What would you send to the time capsule to represent Illinois in 2026?

Take the survey here

A new report from Illinois' arts advocacy finds that the arts generate more than $50 billion for Chicago's economy.

Why it matters: Chicago, and increasingly other parts of the state, promote the arts and culture sector to attract tourism, new businesses and residents.

• The Arts Alliance Illinois report validates advocates and leaders' argument of the arts' impact and puts hard numbers on investment in the arts as an overall win for the economy.

What they're saying: "When people talk about the Chicago and Illinois economies, they talk about manufacturing, health care, agriculture, and other key industries. Starting today, the creative sector belongs in that conversation," Arts Alliance Illinois executive director Claire Rice said this week after releasing the report.

State of play: "The Creative Economy of Chicago & Illinois: Impact and Assets" breaks down the arts economy into 12 categories, including arts education, design services, performing arts centers, festivals, books and publishing.

By the numbers: The arts generate $148 billion and support more than 730,000 jobs in Illinois, according to the report.

• In Chicago, the creative sector is the third-largest industry, generating $50 billion in economic activity, including $5.7 billion in tax revenue, and supporting more than 210,000 jobs.

Reality check: Artists, primarily in theater, music and visual arts, earn well below the state's $50,796 living wage baseline, driving home the importance of improving wages for the workers who contribute billions to the state's economy.

What's next: Arts Alliance Illinois plans to release local reports about the suburbs and Chicago's South Side. It also intends to host community meetings about the report.

Go deeper

⛴️ Chicago broke an all-time tourism spending record in 2025. About 56.8 million visitors generated $21.5 billion in spending, according to Choose Chicago. (CBS 2)

🏟️ Lukas and Samantha Walton, heirs to the Walmart fortune, have acquired a minority stake in the Chicago Bulls and the United Center. The Reinsdorf and Wirtz families still hold a controlling interest in the team and the arena. (Forbes)

🎄 The Bears will be featured in a new Hallmark Christmas movie called "Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story." It's part of a collaboration between the channel and the NFL. (Block Club)

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👋 Hi, it's Justin. I have a new History Mystery for you.

State of play: I'm stumped about where this PBR sign was, and I'd love your help figuring it out.

• The archive says 1943 and there are some daylight photos available, but that would make it too easy.
• Regardless of the mystery, what a cool neon sign from Chicago's history!

📫 Respond to this email with clues and I'll reveal where this location is tomorrow!