Gilding Arts Museum Coming to Pontiac, Illinois

The Society of Gilders, an international organization of artists who specialize in gold leaf application and design, has plans to create the Museum of Gilding Arts in Pontiac, Ill. Opening later this year or in 2013, the museum will include the Swift Collection, comprised of artifacts and tools from one of America’s original gold leaf factories. Gold leaf art and design extends back in history as far as the ancient Egyptian and Roman civilizations.

Plans are to set up a temporary display inside the International Walldog Mural and Sign Art Museum while a permanent home for the collection is found.

Pontiac, southwest of Chicago, also is home to the Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame and Museum and the new Pontiac-Oakland Automobile Museum & Resource Center. (pontiac.org)