Events
View our listing of upcoming events and programs. Looking for past events? Find them on our list of past events. To view recordings of past events, or to tune into a livestream, visit our YouTube channel.
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...
Women's History Month
Discover Local Women's History at the McLean County Museum of History! The Museum's latest Rotunda Installation, generou...
Lucy's Girls: Lucy Orme Morgan and the Girl's Industrial Home at Bloomington Public Library
Lucy Orme Morgan was passionate about social welfare and was active in numerous philanthropic activities throughout her lifetime. ...
The Orphan Train in McLean County at Dominy Memorial Library
Do you enjoy learning more about local history? The Friends of Dominy Library are hosting a program about the western agency of a ...
2025 History Makers Honoree Reveal
Join us on Wednesday, April 2 at 10:30 a.m. in the Museum's Courtroom, or live online via the Museum's YouTube Channel a...
2025 Slow Art Day on Route 66
Founded in 2010, Slow Art Day is an annual global event that aims to help more people discover the joy of looking at and appreciat...
NPL Young Author's Display
The Museum, in partnership with Normal Public Library, is pleased to host the student winners of the Unit 5 Young Authors contest....
Lunch & Learn: Organizing for policy change for a more just and regenerative food system with Jeff Haake
Bring your lunch and join us to learn about how the Illinois Stewardship Alliance has been working to organize farmers and eaters ...
Holi Moli 2025
NCHS' South Asian Performing Arts Students are proud to present: A Festival of Colors: Holi Moli!Every spring, the Indian sub...
Visitors Center 10th Anniversary Ribbon Cutting & Celebration
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
April 28 is Workers’ Memorial Day. Join us in gathering to remember those who have fallen on the job due to accidents and occupati...
Sculpture on the Square Dedication Ceremony
Join us to celebrate the installation of Herb Eaton's Cross Pollinated Lovers sculpture on the Museum Square during the First...
NCHS Experimental Ensemble presented by pt.fwd
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
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
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...
Museum and Visitors Center Closed for Staff Development Day
The Museum and its Cruisin with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center & Gift Shop will be closed all day on Wednesday, May 7 for staff...
Lunch & Learn: Old Homes and Historic Preservation with Dawn Peters
Bring your lunch and join us to learn about how historic preservation is an important tool for any community on Thursday, May 8, f...
Knit In at Illinois Art Station
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
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
Join us to celebrate and dedicate the Lincoln's Lost Speech Mural in downtown Bloomington on Thursday, May 29 at 5:25 p.m.Dur...
Lunch & Learn: Making Insurance Interesting- Stories from State Farm with State Farm Archivist Buck Farley
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. ...
Knit In at The Bistro
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
The 2025 History Makers Gala be on the evening of Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in the Brown Ballroom at Illinois State University...
FREE Admission in Honor of Juneteenth
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...
Closed for the Fourth of July
The Museum and its Cruisin' with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center will be closed in observance of the July 4th holiday. We will ...
Lunch & Learn: Atlanta, Illinois - The Land of the Giants
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...
PRIDE Fest
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
The History Reads Book Club and True Crime Book Club are pleased to host an evening talk with Steve Vogel -- author of Reasonable ...
Lunch & Learn: A Fair to Remember - The History of McLean County Fairs
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. ...
Knit In at the McLean County Arts Center
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
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
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...
100 Years of COUNTRY Financial: Making a Home in the Twin Cities, 1958-1961
Join Museum Librarian Bill Kemp for a program celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of COUNTRY Financial. This free pu...
Free Admission in Honor of Indigenous Peoples' Day
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
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
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 ...
Knit In at The Hangar Art Co.
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
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
Bring your lunch and join us to learn about the Wizard of Oz's connection to McLean County and Illinois on Thursday, November...
Museum and Visitors Center Closed for Thanksgiving
The Museum and Cruisin' with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center will be closed in observance of Thanksgiving. We will reopen on Fr...
Museum and Visitors Center Closed for Christmas Holiday
The Museum and Visitors Center will be closed for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We will reopen for regular business on Friday, ...
Museum and Visitors Center Closed for New Years Holiday
The Museum and its Cruisin' with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center & Gift Shop will be closed all day New Years Eve and New Y...