Eclipse Boomtowns Await Their Moment in the (Blocked) Sun
Rochester, New York, is going all out to court tourists, while Carbondale, Illinois, is letting experience be the guide.
Daniel Schneiderman, the eclipse partnerships coordinator at the Rochester Museum & Science Center.
Photographer: Alexander Iglesias for Bloomberg BusinessweekGary Williams had no idea what to expect from the last total solar eclipse to cross North America. The year was 2017, and Carbondale, Illinois, where Williams is city manager, was smack dab in the path of totality—that is, the geographic band where the moon’s full blockage of the sun can be seen.
The consultants Williams spoke to estimated anywhere from 50,000 to 150,000 people would come to witness the phenomenon—an overwhelming scenario for a town of 22,000. To prepare, Williams budgeted about $250,000 for extra parking, a shuttle service and live music, along with ample overtime for police and firefighters, in case traffic went seriously awry. Local businesses stocked up on inventory, anticipating that the crowds would bring their wallets.