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Carbondale officials pleased with crowds for solar eclipse

Posted August 23, 2017 7:00 am

The Associated Press

Saluki cheerleaders try out eclipse glasses that they were giving out to visitors to Saluki Stadium on the campus of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Ill., on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017. Scientists said Monday's total eclipse would cast a shadow that would race through 14 states including Illinois. (Robert Cohen/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) The Associated Press

CARBONDALE, Ill. (AP) - Tourism officials in southern Illinois say about 200,000 people traveled to the 16-county region to watch the total solar eclipse.

Carbondale officials estimate that the recent solar eclipse attracted up to 50,000 people to the city. Illinois Office of Tourism Director Cory Jobe says visitor spending in Carbondale is estimated to be $7 million.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale spokeswoman Rae Morrow Goldsmith says an estimated 30,000 people gathered on campus to watch the eclipse, including 14,000 at the stadium.

City Manager Gary Williams say he hopes the success of the city's largest event in years can serve as "a launching pad to do bigger and better things."

Event planners say the event went well, but that there were major traffic jams on highways out of southern Illinois following the eclipse.

A total solar eclipse is seen above the Bald Knob Cross of Peace Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, in Alto Pass, Ill. More than 700 people visited the over 100 foot cross for the event. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) The Associated Press

Joe Roth, left, and Scott Foster from the Chicago area are silhouetted as they prepare telescopes and cameras to observe a total solar eclipse at the base of the Bald Knob Cross of Peace, Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, in Alto Pass, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) The Associated Press

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