On the Square Blog
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
March 1st, 2023
0 mins read by Susan Hartzold
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
November 15th, 2022
McHistory: ‘King of Swedes’ kept Bloomington streets clean
Listen to the audio on WGLT's website hereMcHistory goes back in time to explore big moments and small stories from McLean County history. McHistory episodes can...
9 mins read by Bill Kemp
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
October 20th, 2022
McHistory: Helen Clark McCurdy was a political pioneer in Bloomington
Listen to the audio on WGLT's website hereMcHistory goes back in time to explore big moments and small stories from McLean County history. McHistory episod...
6 mins read by Bill Kemp
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
August 13th, 2022
McHistory: Housekeeper for the affluent and the tawdry
Listen to the audio on WGLT's website hereMcHistory goes back in time to explore big moments and small stories from McLean County history. McHistory episodes can b...
6 mins read by Bill Kemp
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
August 9th, 2022
McHistory: Press Butler the great detective
Listen to the audio on WGLT's website hereMcHistory goes back in time to explore big moments and small stories from McLean County history. McHistory episodes can be heard periodical...
5 mins read by Bill Kemp
June 22nd, 2022
McHistory: George Hoagland’s ‘Oil of Gladness’
Listen to the audio on WGLT's website hereMcHistory goes back in time to explore big moments and small stories from McLean County history. McHistory episodes can be heard periodical...
5 mins read by Bill Kemp
June 1st, 2022
0 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
February 18th, 2022
McHistory: Multitalented suffrage leader promoted women’s health and the vote
Listen to the audio on WGLT's website hereMcHistory goes back in time to explore big moments and small stories from McLean County history. McHistory...
5 mins read by Bill Kemp
January 12th, 2022
McHistory: A Bloomington Huckster’s best-selling medicine was Blackberry Balsam
Listen to the audio on WGLT's website hereMcHistory goes back in time to explore big moments and small stories from McLean County history. McHistory episodes can be heard periodically o...
4 mins read by Bill Kemp
December 7th, 2021
McHistory: Noted Author Harold Sinclair of Bloomington
Listen to the audio on WGLT's website hereMcHistory goes back in time to explore big moments and small stories from McLean County history. McHistory episodes can be heard...
6 mins read by Bill Kemp
December 1st, 2021
0 mins read by Susan Hartzold
September 27th, 2021
McHistory: Early Settlers Battled Prairie Fire to Tame the Land
Listen to the audio on WGLT's website hereMcHistory goes back in time to explore big moments and small stories from McLean County history. McHistory episodes can...
5 mins read by Bill Kemp
September 16th, 2021
McHistory: Dr. William Hill, A Man of Many Contradictions
Listen to the audio on WGLT's website hereMcHistory goes back in time to explore big moments and small stories from McLean County history. McHistory episodes can be hear...
5 mins read by Bill Kemp
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
September 1st, 2021
0 mins read by Susan Hartzold
August 31st, 2021
McHistory: Sigmund Livingston and the Anti-Defamation League
Listen to the audio on WGLT's website hereMcHistory goes back in time to explore big moments and small stories from McLean County history. McHistory episodes...
2 mins read by Bill Kemp