BLOOMINGTON - Closing the David Davis Mansion state historic site would be an economic and cultural loss to the Twin Cities, Bloomington leaders said Thursday, and some promised to seek other sources of money to keep it open.

The 19th century mansion built by a friend of Abraham Lincoln and Supreme Court justice was among about two dozen state parks and historic sites targeted by Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Thursday for closure this fall.

"We're doing everything we possibly can to keep it open," said Lou Ann Lovell, president of a private foundation that helps the site.

In particular, Lovell and others want to ensure school field trips continue, the site's heirloom gardens are maintained, and that events tied to Abraham Lincoln's bicentennial birthday in February are celebrated.

"We can't privately operate the site" because it belongs to the state, said Lovell. But she hopes to work with the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency to keep it functioning from month to month with hopes that state lawmakers and the governor resolve the budget impasse.

She hopes the community will rally to keep the landmark at 1000 E. Monroe St. open.

Marcia Young, the site's executive director, was unavailable Thursday after the announcement, and other staff at the site declined to comment.

"The timing really couldn't be worse" for closing the mansion, said Bloomington Mayor Steve Stockton. "And it takes away a real community resource."

Major events tied to Lincoln and Davis' friendship are planned in upcoming months, he added.

"The community stands to lose a lot" with the closure, said Crystal Howard, Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors' Bureau director.

The site draws about 46,000 visitors annually and brings about $1 million to the community through visitors spending money on gasoline, meals and shopping, she said.

Area residents contributed more than 7,000 volunteer hours last year to maintain the site and present it to visitors, she said.

"It's a dark day for history in Illinois," said Greg Koos, McLean County Museum of History executive director.

He called the mansion the best historic preservation project in the state, noting the architectural beauty, the painstaking research, and the implementation of tours. He estimates it's been open to the public as a state historic site nearly 50 years.

Lovell said two fall events still are on schedule: a Sept. 11 talk by Lincoln scholar Gary Ecelbarger at the county museum; and the foundation's annual meeting Sept. 24 at the Normal Theater. At the latter event, impersonators will represent Abraham Lincoln and Sen. Stephen Douglas and local Lincoln scholars will talk, she said.