Peoria County’s Bicentennial Comes to Life with the Bison Trek

A bicentennial is a once-in-a-generation milestone — and Peoria County wanted to celebrate 200 years in a way that brought the entire community into the experience.

Rather than hosting a single commemorative event, the county envisioned something bigger: a living, interactive celebration that would unfold across the region, highlight local pride, and invite residents and visitors to explore Peoria County in a new way.

The result was Bison Trek — a public art trail featuring hand-painted bison sculptures placed throughout the county, each one inviting discovery, participation, and storytelling.

Overview

To mark its 200th anniversary, Peoria County set out to create a celebration that was bold, meaningful, and rooted in local pride. The result was Bison-tennial—a countywide public art initiative inspired by the bison, a symbol of strength, longevity, and the land’s history.

Life-size bison sculptures were commissioned from local artists and sponsors, then placed across Peoria County for public display. Some appeared at permanent locations, while others traveled to community events throughout the year—turning the bicentennial into an ongoing, highly visible celebration.

Beyond the art itself, the goal was clear: encourage residents and visitors to explore new parts of the county, support local businesses, and actively participate in the milestone—not just observe it.

At a Glance

Bison Trek - In celebration of Peoria County's 200th anniversary
Peoria County, IL
Timeline: Year-long activation
Audience: Residents, visitors and art enthusiasts
Use Cases: Community engagement | Placemaking | Art Trail
Experience Type: Digital Passport | Scavenger Hunt | Photo Challenge
Key Features: Digital Badges, Photo Check-ins, Interactive Map
Platform: Seeker XP
Results: 11,000+ community contributed photos

About the Organization

Peoria County Government plays a central role in stewarding the region’s quality of life – supporting outdoor recreation, cultural institutions, community events, and initiatives that bring residents together. From maintaining access to lakes, trails, and public spaces to supporting sports tourism and cultural anchors like the Peoria Riverfront Museum, the County helps ensure Peoria remains a place people are proud to call home.

With a strong focus on community, placemaking, and shared civic identity, Peoria County Government saw the bicentennial as more than a milestone – it was an opportunity to create an experience that celebrated local history, elevated the arts, and invited residents and visitors alike to explore the county in a new way.

How it Worked

Peoria County used Seeker XP to transform Bison-tennial from a static art installation into a buzz-worthy, interactive experience designed to get people exploring, sharing, and participating together.

Using Seeker XP, the team launched a digital scavenger hunt and passport that:

Encouraged participants to generate photos and user-generated content through photo check-ins at each location
Amplified the fun factor with digital badges, achievements, and prizes
Delivered a mobile-first, interactive map that guided participants to bison locations across the county
Created a sense of community through leaderboards and activity feeds, showing progress and participation in real time

By layering a digital experience on top of a physical art trail, Seeker XP helped extend the life of the campaign, spark social sharing, and turn a milestone celebration into an ongoing, community-powered experience—one that lived far beyond a single moment or event.

Activities

44 Photo Check-in Locations

Fixed locations featuring bison art installations, each with a photo check-in to capture the experience

Bison Hunt

Scavenger-hunt–style activities challenging participants to spot and snap a photo of bison appearing at community events and parades

Bison in the Wild

A featured activity that sent participants to Wildlife Prairie Park to check-in and snap a pic of real bison

Badges

Rewards

Monthly prize drawings to sustain engagement throughout the campaign.

Why We Love It

Multiple play styles, one experience

The campaign blended location-based check-ins with scavenger-hunt–style activities (like the roaming bison), giving participants different ways to engage and earn badges.
Roaming Bison Created Organic Buzz

Two bison art installations moved throughout the activation - appearing at special events like summer parades - bringing the experience directly into the community and encouraging spontaneous participation.
Massive Community Participation

11,000+ community contributed photos were acquired, turning the bicentennial into a highly visible celebration across the county.