A ‘Super’ Eclipse for Marco Resident

Suzanne Stone, long time Marco resident and owner of Island Rolfer, made sure she was on the path of totality for the solar eclipse on August 21st. She traveled to Metropolis, Illinois, a small town with a population of approximately 6,000 people, which included a super celebrity – Superman.

For over a year, the Metropolis Chamber of Commerce has been preparing for the eclipse, billing it as an “once-ina lifetime” occurrence. The week-long celebration transformed vacant lots and cow pastures into a scene out of Burning Man, that classic American outdoor festival that brings people together once a year in the spirit of love, inclusion and community.

Metropolis residents did not need superpowers to experience this celestial event, nor did they need kryptonite to protect themselves from harmful rays. The morning began with full sunshine and a few passing clouds. At its totality, for two minutes and twenty-three seconds, Suzanne described the sensation as “eerie” and “full of goose bumps.”

Superman, a celebrated local hero, stands for “Truth, justice, and the American way.” A 15-foot tall bronze statue of Superman stands in Superman Square, with Lois Lane’s statue a block away. Everything “Super” is celebrated at the Superman Museum. The town newspaper is called The Planet. A fitting location for an astronomical phenomenon.

Start planning now: The next total solar eclipse is only seven years away, and you’ll experience totality in 2024 with Superman in Metropolis, Illinois.