New app celebrates life of Ray Bradbury
The Waukegan Historical Society's Waukegan History Museum Companion App will feature a new, self-guided tour in celebration of the 100th birthday of Waukegan born author Ray Bradbury, "Bradbury's WaukWay Self-Guided Tour."
The tour is an adaptation of the Ray Bradbury Literary Walk from 2002.
Bradbury's WaukWay Self-Guided Tour became available on Aug. 22, on the 100th anniversary of Bradbury's birth. Participants will visit 20 public places around the downtown Waukegan area on the tour. Many of the sites featured played prominent roles in Bradbury's childhood, helping prepare him for writing fantasy and science fiction.
Other sites included are places that still pay tribute to Bradbury today. Participants will step back in time to Waukegan in the 1920s and '30s to experience Bradbury's childhood. Many of these locations became part of Bradbury's novels and short stories.
A special feature of the tour is the incorporation of the Waukegan Historical Society's award-winning initiative, the "Pieces of the Past" scavenger hunt. When visiting the public sites on the tour, participants will search for the Ray Bradbury Centennial 100 logo, which will contain a "Pieces of the Past" code to enter in the app.
One time for each location, the successful code entered in the app will result in a raffle ticket. The "Pieces of the Past" scavenger hunt will run through Nov. 1, followed by a raffle with gift certificates for use at local businesses as prizes.
Participants may choose to complete the walk in one day or spread it out over multiple days. It is recommended that participants start the self-guided tour at the Waukegan Park District's Historic Waukegan Carnegie Library, 1 N. Sheridan Road in downtown Waukegan
The Waukegan History Museum Companion App can be found on the Waukegan Park District App, which can be downloaded on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The app can also be found and used through the Waukegan Historical Society website at waukeganhistorical.org. The app is free and family-friendly.
Other tours currently featured on the app include the Waukegan Harbor and Downtown Art & Sculptures. Some content is available on the app in both English and Spanish.
For questions, contact Bryan Escobar at bescobar@waukeganparks.org.