A new report from the National Park Service says that 296,214 people visited the Lincoln Home National Historic Site in 2011.
The report also says over $16.3 million was spent in communities surrounding the park. Park Superintendent Dale Phillips says the staff at the Lincoln Home serves as ambassadors for the area. They tell visitors where they can eat, lodge, and fill up the tank in the area. Not only does the money help the surrounding area but it supports 237 jobs as well.
The report showed visitor spending having a $30 billion impact on the entire U.S. economy and supported 252,000 jobs nationwide. Visitor spending supports 63 percent of jobs in food and beverage service. 17 percent in recreation and entertainment, 11 percent in other retail, seven percent in transportation and fuel and two percent in wholesale and manufacturing.
(Posted 5:08 pm 02/26/13 by Ted Maguire)