Visitors can now learn about local history in another language at the McLean County Museum of History. The museum, with the support of an Action Grant from Illinois Humanities, created an interactive, Spanish-language tour of its award-winning “Making A Home” exhibit gallery.
From the arrival of native people in the 12th century to the immigration of Southeast Asians and Latinos in the late 20th century, the exhibit explores the experiences of individuals and families who came from all over the world to make McLean County their home.
The new tour launched at the museum’s Día de Muertos celebration with over 300 people in attendance on Friday, November 1, 2024. It took about a year and a committee of community members to bring the “audioguía” to life. The committee consisted of people hailing from Guatemala, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and across the U.S. who now live in McLean County, and who also have expertise in translation, the Spanish language, and communication.
Cereida Berrios Rodriguez, a bilingual teacher for District 87, served on the committee and was the voice of the audio tour. “As a Latina living in this county, it was a pleasure for me to work with amazing people on this project, translating the incredible history of this town into Spanish,” says Berrios Rodriguez. “It aligns with my passion for giving back to my community, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn about the unique background of my town while contributing to meaningful work.”
The museum’s Director of Youth and Family Education, Emily McCusker, adds: “We cannot truly tell the diverse stories of the people of McLean County if the stories themselves are inaccessible to the community. This audio tour is the great step towards making the museum’s content not just about everyone, but for everyone as well.”
Participants begin the tour with an introductory video featuring Cereida Berrios Rodriguez and museum board member Marcos Mendez that provides information about the museum, its Cruisin’ with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center & Gift Shop, and how to use the Tourient web app. The self-paced tour divides the exhibit into sections labeled in the app and the physical space.
Visitors can scan a QR code or visit https://mchistory.tourient.app/ to access the tour from anywhere, anytime. The museum also offers two other tours in English on the Tourient web app: the Downtown Bloomington Architecture Tour and the Looking for Lincoln in Bloomington-Normal Tour. All of the tours are self-guided and require the use of a personal device and headphones.
The Action Grant was made possible by Illinois Humanities through annual support from the Illinois General Assembly. Without their funding, these grants would not be possible. Illinois Humanities is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Illinois General Assembly, as well as by contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporations. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed by speakers, program participants, or audiences do not necessarily reflect those of the NEH, Illinois Humanities, their partnering organizations or other funders.
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