Museum News
105 posts
May 6th, 2024
0 mins read by Morgan Bueza
March 27th, 2024
0 mins read by Mike Matejka
March 27th, 2024
0 mins read by Mike Matejka
March 20th, 2024
0 mins read by
March 13th, 2024
0 mins read by Micaela Harris
February 13th, 2024
Museum Square Becomes First Site for International Artist EMEMEM's U.S. Debut
If you're walking along the east side of the Museum Square, you might see a glimmer of something new filling in the cracks of the pavement... Earlier this month, the Museum Square became the first city in the United States to feature an original installation from Ememem, the globetrotting st...
2 mins read by Micaela Harris
February 13th, 2024
Local Sci-Fi Novels Added to Library Stacks
The Museum's Library & Archives actively collects published works by local authors and is always eager to add to our repertoire. We recently added three books by Wilson Tucker (1914-2006) to the Library st...
2 mins read by
January 13th, 2024
Audiobook of McLean County History Now Available on Audible & KIndle
Freedom, Land & Community: A History of McLean County Illinois, 1730-1900, a groundbreaking historical tome that documents and details the lives of the diverse people of Central Illinois through the lens of the author, Greg Koos, is now available on Audible and Kindle. Masterf...
1 mins read by Micaela Harris
December 24th, 2023
Museum Saving Santa, Bringing Back a Beloved Central Illinois Christmas Tradition
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, two in fact, right here in McLean County. The 14-foot Santa sculptures symbolized the holiday season in Central Illinois for nearly fifty years. But all the holiday hoopla has them in need of some TLC before next Christmas.So, the McLean County Museum...
4 mins read by Micaela Harris
November 14th, 2023
Two Pieces of World War II Accessioned into the Museum's Library and Archives
In the last week, the Museum has accessioned two unique pieces of World War II history: a P.O.W. diary and a collection of 16 propaganda posters. On Monday, November 13, 2023, Dianna Dee Damkoehler donated sixteen World War II propaganda posters to the Museum. The Office of War Info...
3 mins read by Micaela Harris
October 30th, 2023
Museum to Reopen Reenvisioned Merwin Gallery
Museum to Reopen Reenvisioned Merwin Gallery, Increase Collections’ AccessibilityContactMicaela Harris, Director of Communications at 309-825-5296 or mharris@mchistory.org For...
3 mins read by Micaela Harris
September 19th, 2023
Celebrating Latinx Heritage Month
In 1968, the Lyndon B. Johnson administration federally established Hispanic Heritage Week. On August 17, 1988, the Ronald Reagan administration expanded and enacted into law Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins on September 15 and ends on October 15.The dates are significant as Se...
2 mins read by Micaela Harris
July 26th, 2023
Museum to Dedicate Historic Marker on Bloomington’s West Side Memorializing the Former Booker T. Washington Home for Colored Children
Contact:Micaela Harris, Museum Director of Communications, at 309-827-0228 ext. 114Norris Porter, Museum Director of Development, at ...
8 mins read by Micaela Harris
July 13th, 2023
Seeds of History
Science and the humanities are often thought of as separate entities and subjects. Still, we at the Museum believe all forms of knowledge are important in understanding and interpreting our world. Seeds of History is an ongoing series of interdisciplinary initiatives working to edu...
3 mins read by Micaela Harris
July 12th, 2023
Historic Markers: Tools in Creating Community History
Monuments and historic markers reflect our values as a community and are tangible and visual markers of the stories we value. They also remind us that history is not exclusively confined to the walls of a museum but exists all around us. History happens everywhere, all the time. Public his...
14 mins read by Micaela Harris
June 13th, 2023
0 mins read by Micaela Harris
March 30th, 2023
Guy Fraker -- 2023 History Maker
Central Illinois roots and Abraham Lincoln tugged at Guy Fraker, bringing this Missouri-born, suburban New York City youth to a long-time Bloomington career.Guy’s family had deep roots in central Illinois and the University of Illinois. When Guy was a child, the family visited his grandmot...
5 mins read by Norris Porter
March 30th, 2023
Charles & Willie Halbert -- 2023 History Makers
The Lord's mercies are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.Lamentations 3:23Standing for justice and deep in their faith, Charles and Willie Halbert are community stalwarts to ensure fairness and equality for all. Plus, their generosity has fed multitudes, com...
4 mins read by Norris Porter
March 30th, 2023
Dotti Bushnell -- 2023 History Maker
The rich aroma of spices has followed Dotti Bushnell throughout her life, from her childhood in India to her 47-plus year proprietorship of The Garlic Press in Uptown Normal.Dotti’s parents were Presbyterian missionaries in India, where she grew up surrounded by Indian culture and attended...
4 mins read by Norris Porter
March 30th, 2023
Hank & Mary Campbell -- 2023 History Makers
Habitat houses, formerly incarcerated women welcomed back, student discards re-used, food distributed, children sheltered, and a Kenyan clinic sustained – contributions Hank and Mary Campbell have made and continue to support. These two retired Illinois State University (ISU) professors have neve...
4 mins read by Norris Porter
December 14th, 2022
0 mins read by Susan Hartzold
November 29th, 2022
Press Release: Awarded Re-Accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums
McLean County Museum of History in Top 3.3% of the CountryAwarded Re-Accreditation from the American Alliance of MuseumsBLOOMINGTON, IL (11/29/2022) -– The McLean County Museum of History has, once again, received the highest national recognitio...
3 mins read by Jeffery Woodard
October 24th, 2022
Press Release: Executive Director Julie Emig to be out on medical leave through December
Executive Director Julie Emig to be out on medical leave through DecemberBloomington- Executive Director Julie Emig is out on medical leave from the McLean County Museum of History until December. Her prognosis is exceptionally good with a full recovery expected. While Jul...
1 mins read by Jeffery Woodard
September 27th, 2022
Press Release: Museum Reinvests in Preservation of Historic Markers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, September 27, 2022, 1:00 p.m.CONTACT: Norris Porter, Director of Development at nporter@mchistory.org or (309) 827-0428 ext. 104Museum Reinvests in Preservation of Historic Markers,Set...
2 mins read by Jeffery Woodard
September 1st, 2022
0 mins read by Susan Hartzold