The McLean County Museum of History will celebrate a new mural in downtown Bloomington commemorating Lincoln's Lost Speech on Thursday, May 29.
The celebration will take place on the east steps of the museum, beginning at 4:45 p.m. with period-appropriate music performed by the 33rd Illinois Regimental Band. At 5:25 p.m., the program will commence and include remarks from local Lincoln Scholar Guy Fraker, an exclusive giveaway item, and recognition of the coloring contest winners. The coloring contest kicked off the mural project in March. A President Lincoln impersonator will lead a procession to the mural's site to conclude the program.
Local artist Troy Freeman of Free Sky Studios designed and painted the 45 ft. tall and 25 ft. wide mural on the east wall of Rosie's Pub, just across from where President Lincoln gave the famous speech 169 years ago.
The "Lost Speech" was the closing oration at the Anti-Nebraska Convention on May 29, 1856, which united several political factions against the expansion of enslavement and led to the founding of the Illinois Republican Party.
Major's Hall, a historic building at 117 E. Front St., stood from 1851 until 1958 and served as the convention's convening space. Over the years, the brick building hosted various events and occupants, including painters, musicians, grocers, tailors, printers, bakers, barbers, and, later in its history, a Kroger. Despite the community's efforts to save the historic building, demolition of Major's Hall began in December 1958 to create surface parking. The Lincoln Parking Deck, which stands at the site today, was built in 1990.
The most historically significant event at Major's Hall, however, was Lincoln's Lost Speech. "What happened in Bloomington on May 29, 1856, ignited Lincoln's ascent to the presidency and ultimately led to emancipation and three constitutional amendments," says the museum's Director of Development, Norris Porter.
The McLean County Museum of History, in collaboration with the artist and an advisory committee of community members, created the mural to memorialize the historic speech on a monumental scale.
While the built environment is now drastically different than it was in 1856, the mural stands as a testament to the history made in downtown Bloomington — reminding visitors and locals alike that national history is made locally and that even 250 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, we are still in pursuit of happiness... and more parking.
Please click here to access images of the mural and other resources in the media kit.
Explore digitized images of Major's Hall before, during, and after demolition, via the McLean County Museum of History's collections on the Illinois Digital Archives by clicking here.
Access the content about Lincoln's Lost Speech in the museum's exhibit, Abraham Lincoln in McLean County, by clicking here.
