Courtyard has been built adjacent to this hotel, completing a hotel campus for larger conventions. The Civic Center hosts the Bradley University Men's Basketball team, the IHSA Boys State Basketball Championships and State Chess Championship. Which claims to be the largest chess team tournament in the United States: Beginning in 2018, the teams were narrowed to 128 by the use of sectional elimination competitions, and the tournament has about 1500 players, including up to 8 players and 4 alternates per team. Renaissance Park Renaissance Park was originally designated as a research park, originally established in May 2003 as the Peoria Medical and Technology District. It consisted of nine residential neighborhoods, Bradley University, the medical district, and the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research. The Peoria NEXT Innovation Center opened in August 2007 and provides both dry and wet labs, as well as conference and office space for emerging start-up companies. Over $2 billion in research is conducted in Peoria annually. While the Renaissance Park research park project never came to full fruition, many of the original ideas from the original Renaissance Park concept still continue on a smaller level via The Renaissance Park Community Association. The Museum Block The Museum Block is a $100+ million project that contains the Peoria Riverfront Museum and The Caterpillar Experience, a museum and visitor's center showcasing Caterpillar past, present, and future. It is located in downtown Peoria along the Illinois River at the site formerly known as the Sears Block. The Block opened in October 2012. Registered historic places Central National Bank Building Cumberland Presbyterian Church Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall Grandview Drive International Harvester Building John C. Proctor Recreation Center Judge Flanagan Residence Judge Jacob Gale House Madison Theatre North Side Historic District Peace and Harvest Peoria City Hall Peoria Cordage Company Peoria Mineral Springs Peoria Waterworks Pere Marquette Hotel Pettingill-Morron House Rock Island Depot and Freight House Springdale Cemetery West Bluff Historic District A. Lucas & Sons Points of interest The city of Peoria is home to a United States courthouse and the Peoria Civic Center (which includes Carver Arena). Civil War Monument at County Courthouse Plaza Grandview Drive along the Illinois River bluff in Peoria and Peoria Heights Glen Oak Park, including Glen Oak Zoo and George L. Luthy Memorial Botanical Garden Spirit of Peoria − paddle wheel riverboat Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception (Peoria, Illinois)