Every Saturday at 9:00am

Museum at the Market

Museum at the Farmer's Market presented by Illinois Farm BureauSaturdays on the Museum Square in Downtown Bloomington May thr...

Every Tuesday at 5:00pm

Old Time Music (Jam Session)

Join the Old Time Music group every Tuesday from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Museum. A laid back and diverse group of musicia...

Visitors Center 10th Anniversary Ribbon Cutting & Celebration
Tuesday, April 22nd
4:00pm – 6:00pm

Ten years ago, we cut the ribbon on the Museum's Cruisin' with Lincoln at the 66 Visitors Center & Gift Shop. Since ...

The Silent Killer: Dangers of Asbestos in the Workplace Panel Discussion
Tuesday, April 29th
6:30pm – 8:00pm

April 28 is Workers' Memorial Day. Join us the following day, Tuesday, April 29, at 6:30 p.m., to honor those who have fallen...

Online + In Person
Sculpture on the Square Dedication Ceremony
Friday, May 2nd
5:00pm – 6:00pm

Kick off a weekend of fun by joining us to celebrate the installation of Herb Eaton's Star Crossed Pollinators sculpture on t...

NCHS Experimental Ensemble presented by pt.fwd
Saturday, May 3rd
7:00pm – 8:00pm

The Museum, in partnership with pt.fwd, is excited to present the NCHS Experimental Ensemble. This concert will conclude pt.fwd’s ...

Red Carpet Corridor Festival 2025
Saturday, May 3rd
9:00am – 5:00pm 10:00am – 2:00pm

Join us for the Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor Festival, spanning 100 miles of historic highway from Joliet to Bloomington. Sponsore...

History Reads Book Club: Living Downstream
Tuesday, May 6th
7:00pm – 8:00pm

All are welcome to join the Museum and Bloomington Public Library on Tuesday, May 6 at 7:00 p.m. for the second History Reads Book...

History Reads Book Club
Online + In Person
Closed for Staff Development Day
Wednesday, May 7th
9:00am – 5:00pm

The Museum and its Cruisin' with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center & Gift Shop will be closed all day on Wednesday, May 7 for...

Lunch & Learn: Old Homes and Historic Preservation with Dawn Peters
Thursday, May 8th
12:10pm – 1:00pm

Bring your lunch and join us to learn about how historic preservation is an important tool for any community on Thursday, May 8, f...

Lunch & Learn
Online + In Person
Knit In at Illinois Art Station
Saturday, May 10th
10:00am – 1:00pm

Calling ALL Knitters and Crocheters, grab your needles and hooks, some yarn, a friend or two, and come and knit for a bit!The seco...

Closed for Memorial Day
Monday, May 26th
9:00am – 5:00pm

The Museum and its Cruisin' with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center & Gift Shop will be closed for the Memorial Day holiday. W...

Abraham Lincoln’s “Lost Speech” Mural Dedication
Thursday, May 29th
5:30pm – 6:15pm

Join us to celebrate and dedicate the Lincoln's Lost Speech Mural in downtown Bloomington on the east steps of the Museum on ...

Lunch & Learn: Making Insurance Interesting - Stories from State Farm with Corporate Archivist Buck Farley
Thursday, June 5th
12:10pm – 1:00pm

Bring your lunch and join us for never before heard stories about State Farm history on Thursday, June 5, from 12:10 to 1:00 p.m. ...

Lunch & Learn
Online + In Person
Knit In at The Bistro
Saturday, June 14th
10:00am – 1:00pm

Calling ALL Knitters and Crocheters, grab your needles and hooks, some yarn, a friend or two, and come and knit for a bit!The Muse...

2025 History Makers Gala
Wednesday, June 18th

The 2025 History Makers Gala will take place on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 in the Brown Ballroom at Illinois State University’s Bone...

FREE Admission in Honor of Juneteenth
Thursday, June 19th
9:00am – 5:00pm

The McLean County Museum of History will offer free admission from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday June 19, 2025 in honor of Juneteen...

Futures in History Day Camp 2025
Monday, June 23rd
9:00am – 4:00pm June 24th at 9:00am – 4:00pm June 25th at 9:00am – 4:00pm June 26th at 9:00am – 4:00pm June 27th at 9:00am – 4:00pm

The Museum's Futures in History Camp is a unique 5-day camp experience for students entering 5th, 6th, and 7th grades who are...

For kids
Closed for the Fourth of July
Friday, July 4th
9:00pm – 5:00pm

The Museum and its Cruisin' with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center will be closed in observance of the July 4th holiday. We will ...

Futures in History Mini Camp: Discovering Downtown
Monday, July 14th
8:30am – 12:30pm July 15th at 8:30am – 12:30pm July 16th at 8:30am – 12:30pm

How much do you really know about historic Downtown Bloomington? Come with us as we explore the culture, history, and humans that ...

For kids
Lunch & Learn: Atlanta, Illinois - The Land of the Giants
Thursday, July 17th
12:10pm – 1:00pm

Bring your lunch and join us to learn about the history of fairs in McLean County on Thursday, July 17, from 12:10 to 1:00 p.m. wi...

Lunch & Learn
Online + In Person
Futures in History Mini Camp: Curious Curators
Monday, July 21st
8:30am – 12:30pm July 22nd at 8:30am – 12:30pm July 23rd at 8:30am – 12:30pm

Learn about museums from the professionals at the McLean County Museum of History! Participants will get a behind-the-scenes look ...

For kids
PRIDE Fest
Saturday, July 26th
4:00pm – 10:00pm

The Bistro's seventh annual PRIDE Fest will be on Saturday, July 26, 2025, from 4-10 p.m. around the Museum Square and outsid...

History Reads Book Club: Reasonable Doubt - An Evening with Steve Vogel
Tuesday, August 5th
7:00pm – 8:00pm

The History Reads Book Club and True Crime Book Club are pleased to host an evening talk with Steve Vogel -- author of Reasonable ...

History Reads Book Club
Lunch & Learn: A Fair to Remember - The History of McLean County Fairs
Thursday, August 14th
12:10pm – 1:00pm

Bring your lunch and join us to learn about the history of fairs in McLean County on Thursday, August 14, from 12:10 to 1:00 p.m. ...

Lunch & Learn
Online + In Person
Knit In at the McLean County Arts Center
Saturday, August 16th
10:00am – 1:00pm

Calling ALL Knitters and Crocheters, grab your needles and hooks, some yarn, a friend or two, and come and knit for a bit!The thir...

Museum and Visitors Center Closed for Labor Day
Monday, September 1st
9:00am – 5:00pm

The Museum and Cruisin' with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center will be closed in observance of Labor Day. We will reopen on Tuesd...

Lunch & Learn: Embracing the Journey: Understanding the Role of an End-of-Life Doula and the Power of Death Cafes
Thursday, September 11th
12:10pm – 1:00pm

Bring your lunch and join us to learn about what a End-of-Life doula is and the power of death cafes on Thursday, September 11, fr...

Lunch & Learn
Online + In Person
Mourning in McLean
Monday, September 15th – Friday, November 21st
9:00am

Death is one of the only guarantees in life.In early U.S. history, death was a more frequent occurrence, arriving through disease,...

100 Years of COUNTRY Financial: Making a Home in the Twin Cities with Bill Kemp
Tuesday, September 16th
6:30pm – 7:30pm

Join Museum Librarian Bill Kemp for a program celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of COUNTRY Financial. This free pu...

Online + In Person
Free Admission in Honor of Indigenous Peoples' Day
Monday, October 13th
9:00am – 5:00pm

Enjoy free admission all day on Monday, October 13, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in honor of Indigenous Peoples' Day...

Día de Muertos
Saturday, November 1st
3:00pm – 7:00pm

Save the date for our annual Día de Muertos Celebration on Saturday, November 1, 2025, tentatively scheduled from 3 to 7 p.m. We a...

History Reads Book Club | Burning of the World: The Great Chicago Fire and the War for a City's Soul
Tuesday, November 4th
7:00pm – 8:00pm

All are welcome to join the Museum and Bloomington Public Library on Tuesday, November 4 at 7:00 p.m. for the final History Reads ...

History Reads Book Club
Online + In Person
Knit In at The Hangar Art Co.
Saturday, November 8th
10:00am – 1:00pm

Calling ALL Knitters and Crocheters, grab your needles and hooks, some yarn, a friend or two, and come and knit for a bit!The fina...

Free Admission in Honor of Veterans' Day
Tuesday, November 11th
9:00am – 5:00pm

In honor of Veterans' Day, Museum admission will be free for all from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m....

Lunch & Learn: The Wizard of Oz in Illinois and Beyond
Thursday, November 13th
12:10pm – 1:00pm

Bring your lunch and join us to learn about the Wizard of Oz's connection to McLean County and Illinois on Thursday, November...

Lunch & Learn
Online + In Person
Closed for Thanksgiving
Thursday, November 27th
9:00am – 5:00am

The Museum and its Cruisin' with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center will be closed in observance of Thanksgiving. We will reopen o...

Closed for Christmas
Wednesday, December 24th – Thursday, December 25th
9:00am – 5:00pm

The Museum and its Cruisin' with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center & Gift Shop will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas ...

Closed for New Years
Wednesday, December 31st – Thursday, January 1st
9:00pm – 5:00pm

The Museum and its Cruisin' with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center & Gift Shop will be closed all day New Years Eve and New Y...