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
Museum to Immortalize Kickapoo Grand Village with Historic Marker at West Park
Museum to Immortalize Kickapoo Grand Village with Historic Marker at West Park Contact: Norris Porter, Museum Director of Development at 309-827-0428 ext. 104 or nporter@mchis...
6 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
January 2nd, 2023
Read our 2022 annual report
Check out our 2022 Annual Report below!...
1 mins read by
December 14th, 2022
Quarterly Magazine -- Winter 2022-23
Check out the latest Quarterly Magazine!...
1 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
Quarterly Magazine -- Fall 2022
Check out our Fall 2022 Quarterly Magazine! ...
1 mins read by Susan Hartzold
August 11th, 2022
Press Release: Breaking Bread in McLean County Continues to Provide Food for Thought
Breaking Bread in McLean County Continues to Provide Food for ThoughtBLOOMINGTON, IL — A partner program of the McLean County Museum of History (MCMH), BN Welcoming, Design Streak at Illinois State University, and Heartland Community College has received two award...
5 mins read by Jeffery Woodard
June 1st, 2022
Quarterly Magazine -- Summer 2022
Check out our latest On the Square Quarterly Magazine!...
1 mins read by Susan Hartzold
March 29th, 2022
2022 History Makers: Deanna Frautschi & Alan Bedell
Deanna Frautschi & Alan Bedell2022 History MakersTwo McLean County residents with working class roots continue to make history as major community and philanthropic leaders. Deanna Frautschi and Alan Bedell both impact many lives with their generous souls, nurtured ...
5 mins read by Norris Porter
March 29th, 2022
2022 History Makers: Myra & George Gordon
“Tikkun Olam,” a phrase in Hebrew meaning to “repair the world,” sums up George and Myra Gordon’s many community contributions, including education, recycling, and planting trees.Their multiple involvements are legend. Between the two, there are almost 60 years of environmental activism, g...
5 mins read by Norris Porter
March 21st, 2022
Press Release: MCMH Wins Community Partnership Award for “Breaking Bread in McLean County”
MCMH Wins Community Partnership Award for “Breaking Bread in McLean County”Bloomington, IL-The McLean County Museum of History (MCMH) received an award for Superior Achievement in Community Partnerships by the Illinois Association for Museums (IAM) in recognition ...
3 mins read by Jeffery Woodard
March 2nd, 2022
0 mins read by Susan Hartzold
September 1st, 2021
Treasures Under the Dome -- Part 1
Treasures Under the Dome will be a semi-regular video series that showcases one of the objects, papers, or images in our collections & archives that is not routinely on display at the Museum.Watch on YouTube...
1 mins read by Norris Porter
August 24th, 2021
Two more digitization grants!
The McLean County Museum of History is the recipient of two digitization grants to expand its efforts in making the Pantagraph Negatives Collection more readily available to the public online. The first grant in the a...
2 mins read by Norris Porter
April 15th, 2021
Barbara Stuart -- 2021 History Maker Honoree
Barbara served for several years as president of the Normal Public Library Board and became the first president of the Friends of the Normal Public Library. She founded seven activist organizations: Young Adult Problems Study Group, The Minority Advocacy Council, the Minority Complaints about Pol...
2 mins read by Norris Porter
April 15th, 2021
Robert and Marilyn Sutherland -- 2021 History Maker Honorees
During their over five decades in Bloomington-Normal, Bob and Marilyn Sutherland participated in many ways to help make this a better community for everyone, particularly for those who often cannot make their own voices heard. Bob "has been arrested, investigated, and vilified, but he can�...
2 mins read by Norris Porter
April 15th, 2021
Jerry and Carole Ringer -- 2021 History Maker Honorees
Jerry and Carole’s shared passion for the arts is well-known in the community. Carole says, “(Art) helps to define the quality of life. Even if you are well able to put food on the table, culture is needed for the soul, mind, and spirit.”Carole was a volunteer and ultimately a professional...
2 mins read by Norris Porter
April 16th, 2020
Cemetery Walk Videos Now Online
The McLean County Museum of History has been a strong supporter of the arts and live theater for many years. And in turn, the arts community has reciprocated that strong support of the Museum and our educational programs, helping us bring to life our vibrant and diverse local history through live...
2 mins read by Candace Summers
March 13th, 2020
Museum Closed to the Public
In the interest of the safety of our patrons, volunteers, and staff in light of the developing COVID-19 situation regionally and nationally, the McLean County Museum of History and Cruisin’ with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center will be closed to the public beginning Saturday, March 14. Should condit...
2 mins read by Jeffery Woodard
September 30th, 2019
Practicing Inclusion at the McLean County Museum of History
The McLean County Museum of History welcomes and values all visitors. We are committed to representing the entire community by sharing your history, your story. In fact, it is part of our mission to “reflect the diversity of McLean County,” and we take that mission seriously. As an educational in...
4 mins read by Torii Moré
March 19th, 2019
Henry Gay Named 2019 History Maker Honoree
It’s a rough road from the Louisiana cotton fields to Bloomington-Normal, with obstacles every step of the way. Henry Gay Sr. completed that journey with dignity and standing up for human rights.Born outside Shreveport, Louisiana on August 5, 1924, Henry grew up in the segregated South. ...
4 mins read by Divah Griffin