Past Events

Zoom - MCGS hosts Debra Dudek for " Researching your Irish Ancestors Online"

Tuesday, March 21, 2023
6:30 PM

Please join the McLean County Historical Society (MCGS) for an informative discussion with Debra Dukdek, author of World War I -Genealogy...

pt.fwd presents Jeremy Young

Sunday, March 19, 2023
4:00 PM

The Museum is please to host another sound artist as part of pt.fwd's fifth season! Jeremy Young is a maker of electroacoustic audio from...

Pins and Needles: A Fiber Arts Celebration with Normal and Bloomington Public Libraries

Saturday, March 18, 2023
2:00 PM

Are you a needlework novice thinking about a new hobby? Or a seasoned crafter looking for some new techniques? Explore the wide world of fiber...

Lunch and Learn: "Whiskey vs Lager Beer – Bejabers:" The Irish, the bete noir of Lincoln’s Republican Party

Thursday, March 9, 2023
12:10 PM

Join the McLean County Museum of History and Illinois Wesleyan University for the seventh Lunch & Learn of the 2022-2023 season with Greg...

NONOpera- L's GA: Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

Saturday, March 4, 2023
7:00 PM

The Museum is pleased to host NONopera for a performance featuring original compositions by regional artists that offers a new perspective on...

From the Cornfields to the Coal and Copper Mines

Tuesday, February 28, 2023
6:30 PM

On Tuesday, February 28, the Museum is pleased to host Dr. Ericka WIlls, assistant professor at the School for Workers, University of Wisconsin,...

Knit In at Normal Public Library

Saturday, February 25, 2023
10:00 AM

We are back in person! We will be holding the first Knit In of 2023 at Normal Public Library on Saturday, February 25 from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00...

HCC - Black History in McLean County

Thursday, February 23, 2023
6:00 PM

Black History in McLean County

February 23, at 6:00 pm

Heartland Community...

Museum to display Authentic Abraham Lincoln documents in recognition of Presidents’ Day

Monday, February 20, 2023
9:00 AM

Museum to display Authentic Abraham Lincoln documents in recognition of Presidents’ Day

Bloomington — In acknowledgement of Presidents’...

IL Statewide Preservation Plan Regional Workshop

Tuesday, February 14, 2023
3:00 PM

Join the Illinois State Historic Preservation Office as they host a regional workshop in Downtown Bloomington! This workshop is intended to...

Echoes of Purple and Gold with Jack Keefe

Saturday, February 11, 2023
2:00 PM

Join the McLean County Museum of History and Bloomington bread author Jack Keefe for a brief presentation, Q&A, and book signing for his new book,...

Lunch and Learn - Being Innovative in Bloomington-Normal w/ Jamie Mathy and Kevin McCarthy

Thursday, February 9, 2023
12:10 PM

Join the McLean County Museum of History for the sixth Lunch & Learn of the 2022-2023 season with Jamie Mathy and Kevin McCarthy on February 9th...

History Reads Book Club: The Defender: How the Legendary Black Newspaper Changed America

Tuesday, February 7, 2023
7:00 PM

All avid readers are welcome to join the Museum and Bloomington Public Library on Tuesday, February 7 at 7:00 p.m. for the first installment of...

Tour de Chocolat 2023

Friday, February 3, 2023
5:00 PM

The Cruisin with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center and McLean County Museum of History are pleased to once again participate in this annual Downtown...

American Legion Post 635 and 56 Tribute to the Four Chaplains on the Museum Square

Friday, February 3, 2023
11:00 AM

Join the American Legion Post #635 and #56 Honor/Color Guard for a tribute to the Four Chaplains on the Museum Square in downtown Bloomington...

Lunch and Learn - Trees: the EAC's Tree Corps Ecology Action Center Initiative as a Public Health and Economic Development Strategy

Thursday, January 12, 2023
12:10 PM

Ecosystem Services From Michael Brown, Executive Director

Trees: the EAC's Tree Corps Ecology Action Center Initiative as a Public...

Museum Closed for New Years

Friday, December 30, 2022
9:00 AM

The Museum and the Cruisin’ with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center will be closed from Friday, December 30, 2022 through Monday, January 2, 2023...

Museum Closed for Christmas

Friday, December 23, 2022
9:00 AM

The Museum and the Cruisin’ with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center will be closed from Friday, December 23 through Monday, December 26 in...

Museum will be closed due to incoming inclement weather on Thursday Dec 22

Thursday, December 22, 2022
9:00 AM

Museum will be closed due to incoming inclement weather on Thursday Dec 22

Bloomington- the McLean County Museum of History and Cruisin’...

My Museum: a Museum Themed Storytime

Tuesday, December 20, 2022
2:00 PM

The McLean County Museum of History is partnering with Bloomington Public Library to present My Museum, a virtual program helping...

Stocking Stuffing Saturday

Saturday, December 17, 2022
10:00 AM

Stuck on what to put in those holiday stockings? Come shop downtown Bloomington to get some fantastic stocking stuffer ideas. The Cruisin with...

Lunch and Learn - Seasonal Choral Music with Scott Ferguson, Professor of Music, the Illinois Wesleyan Director, IWU Collegiate Choir

Thursday, December 8, 2022
12:10 PM

Seasonal Choral Music with Scott Ferguson, Professor of Music

the Illinois Wesleyan Director, IWU Collegiate Choir

University...

Christmas under the Dome

Saturday, December 3, 2022
11:00 AM

The Museum is excited to once again host this community event, which begins immediately following the Jaycees’ Parade and the arrival of Santa....

First Friday: Once Upon a Holiday

Friday, December 2, 2022
5:00 PM

Join the Museum for a variety of free, family friendly activities including our Santa on the Square photo op, Tree Lighting on the lawn with the...

From McLean to Mobile: A History of the “The McLean County Regiment”

Tuesday, November 29, 2022
6:30 PM

The Museum, in partnership with the McLean County Genealogical Society and Bloomington Public Library, are pleased to host author and historian...

Museum Closed in Recognition of Thanksgiving

Thursday, November 24, 2022
9:00 AM

The Museum and the Cruisin’ with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center will be closed in recognition of Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 24.

Zoom Lunch and Learn- Wastewater Today with Tim Ervin, Executive Director Bloomington Normal Water Reclamation District (BNWRD)

Thursday, November 10, 2022
12:10 PM

On Thursday, November 10 at 12:10 p.m., join the Museum and Illinois Wesleyan University for the second Lunch and Learn of the 2022-2023 season,...

World War II Memorial Rededication

Saturday, November 5, 2022
1:00 PM

The Museum invites the public to a rededication of the World War II memorial at 1:00 p.m. November 5, 2022, on the east side of the Museum Square....

Virtual Evergreen Cemetery Walk

Friday, November 4, 2022
9:00 AM

The Museum, in partnership with Evergreen Memorial Cemetery and Illinois Voices Theatre Echoes, are thrilled to be able to continue offering the...

Trapped: The 1909 Cherry Mine Disaster

Tuesday, November 1, 2022
7:00 PM

All avid readers are welcome to join the Museum and Bloomington Public Library on Tuesday, November 1 at 7:00 p.m. for the final installment of...

Light up the Museum Square for Halloween

Friday, October 28, 2022
5:01 PM

Head down to the Museum Square to check out our festive Halloween light display, using our very own building to light the night! Lights start at...

Downtown Trick or Treat

Friday, October 28, 2022
5:00 PM

Don your best costume, grab your candy bucket, and head to Downtown Bloomington where a variety of businesses will be handing out lots of treats!...

Día de los Muertos Ofrenda

Monday, October 24, 2022
10:00 AM

Visit the first floor of the McLean County Museum of History from Monday, October 24 through Thursday, November 3 to view an ofrenda in...

Wood Grain Elevators and Their Legacy - A Case Study using JH Hawes Grain Elevator

Sunday, October 23, 2022
2:00 PM

A free program brought to you by The City of Atlanta, Illinois with the Illinois Humanities Activate History Grant. Bill Kemp of the McLean County...

Illinois Main Street Conference Thurs. Oct 20 Day 3

Thursday, October 20, 2022
8:00 AM

Powered by community, dedicated professionals, volunteers, and civic leaders, historic Main Street districts and neighborhood commercial corridors...

Illinois Main Street Conference Wed. Oct 19 DAY 2

Wednesday, October 19, 2022
8:00 AM

Powered by community, dedicated professionals, volunteers, and civic leaders, historic Main Street districts and neighborhood commercial corridors...

Illinois Main Street Conference Tues. Oct 18 DAY 1

Tuesday, October 18, 2022
3:00 PM

Powered by community, dedicated professionals, volunteers, and civic leaders, historic Main Street districts and neighborhood commercial corridors...

Pop Up Space Activities with Bloomington Public Library

Tuesday, October 18, 2022
10:45 AM

Kids will enjoy space-inspired activities featuring Melvin the Giraffe, Bloomington Library's unofficial mascot. This program will take place at...

Lunch and Learn- November 2022 Elections with Robert Bradley

Thursday, October 13, 2022
12:10 PM

The Fall 2022 election season is shaping up to be one of the more interesting and complex campaigns

in recent history. With just over 3...

Pop Up Story Time Bloomington Public Library

Tuesday, October 11, 2022
10:00 AM

Join Bloomington Public Library every Tuesday in October at the Museum for music and movement, stories, and fun! These programs are free and open...

Pop-Up Lego Construction with Bloomington Public Library

Saturday, October 8, 2022
10:00 AM

Join Bloomington Public Library for a Pop-Up Lego Construction. This program is free and open to the public.

Children ages 5-11 years are...

Dine with the Dead: Cemetery Customs and Traditions of Days Gone By

Friday, October 7, 2022
11:00 AM

The Museum, in partnership with Normal Public Library, is pleased to host a program that explores when picnicking in cemeteries was common...

Conversando Entre Nosotros: What’s in a Label? Hispanic, Chicano/ Chicana, Latina/o, Latinx, Latine, or None of the Above

Tuesday, October 4, 2022
7:00 PM

Conversando Entre Nosotros: What’s in a Label? Hispanic, Chicano/ Chicana, Latina/o, Latinx, Latine, or None of the Above
...

Evergreen Cemetery Walk

Saturday, September 24, 2022
11:00 AM

Over the course of the past two years, the Evergreen Cemetery Walk has been forced to navigate some major challenges,...

pt.fwd presents Daniel Wyche

Saturday, September 17, 2022
7:00 PM

To kick off pt.fwd's fifth season, we're thrilled to welcome Daniel Wyche to the Museum! Daniel will perform a live, stereo version of the title...

MCGS Zoom - Three Cool Cases Solved with Lisa Louise Cooke

Saturday, September 17, 2022
1:00 PM

September 17, 2022 at 1:00 pm –via ZOOM –

Lisa Louise Cooke

“Three Cool Cases...

The Saints and the State: The Mormon Troubles in Illinois

Saturday, September 10, 2022
1:30 PM

The Museum is pleased to host Dr. James Simeone, professor of political science at Illinois Wesleyan University, for an illustrated presentation...

Pop-Up Lego Construction with Bloomington Public Library

Saturday, September 10, 2022
10:00 AM

Join Bloomington Public Library for a Pop-Up Lego Construction build at 10:00 a.m. This program is free and open to the public.

Children...

Cancelled!!! Lunch and Learn- Trees: the EAC's Tree Corps Ecology Action Center Initiative as a Public Health and Economic Development Strategy with Exec Dir. Michael Brown

Thursday, September 8, 2022
12:10 PM

We hope to reschedule this program in the near future.  We apologize for any inconvenience

EAC Executive...

Pop-Up Story Time with Bloomington Public Library

Every Tuesday 10:00 AM

Join Bloomington Public Library every Tuesday in September and October at the Museum for music and movement, stories, and fun! These programs...

Museum Closed for Labor Day

Monday, September 5, 2022
9:00 AM

The Museum and the Cruisin’ with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center will be closed on Monday, September 5 for Labor Day.

Heartland Jazz Orchestra on the West Steps

Friday, September 2, 2022
7:00 PM

The Heartland Jazz Orchestra will be performing at 7:00 p.m. on the West steps of the Museum of History ( Center Street) as part of the Downtown...

Evergreen Cemetery Walk Tickets Now on Sale

Tuesday, August 30, 2022
9:00 AM

Ticket sales for the 2022 Evergreen Cemetery Walk are now on sale. Tickets can be purchased at the Museum or Evergreen Memorial Cemetery....

Project XV Museum Block Party

Saturday, August 20, 2022
5:00 PM

The Museum is thrilled to participate in the second annual David Strother Block Party!

Free Admission

All Ages...

Friday on the Square - STYLE IN STEREO with special guest KYLE YAP

Friday, August 19, 2022
6:00 PM

STYLE IN STEREO with special guest KYLE YAP on FRIDAY, AUGUST 19th in Downtown Bloomington. These FREE concerts on the Square are produced in...

Light up the Musuem Square for Pride Fest

Friday, August 12, 2022
5:00 PM

Head down to the Museum Square to check out our lighting display to celebrate Pride Fest (which will be held on Saturday, August 13). Lights start...

The " Lost Speech " with Librarian Bill Kemp at El Paso District Library

Thursday, August 11, 2022
7:00 PM

Join Museum Librarian Bill Kemp this Thursday evening at the El Paso District Library for an illustrated talk on Abraham Lincoln's May 29, 1856...

"The Bad Guys" Party with Bloomington Public Library

Tuesday, August 9, 2022
4:00 PM

The Bad Guys Party

Calling all fans of Aaron Blabey's book series The Bad Guys and the subsequent movie! The...

Saturdays on the Square -- Free Concert

Saturday, August 6, 2022
7:00 PM

Presented by Pantagraph Media and the Castle Theatre in partnership with the city of Bloomington, the series brings regional acts to perform free,...

Latinos in Illinois and the USA: Music as a Cultural History at Normal Public Library

Saturday, August 6, 2022
1:00 PM

The Museum and Normal Public Library are pleased to host Catalina Maria Johnson, Ph.D., a Chicago-based journalist, for an illustrated...

Seasons on Henry's Farm: A Year of Food and Life on a Sustainable Farm

Tuesday, August 2, 2022
7:00 PM

All avid readers are welcome to join the Museum and Bloomington Public Library on Tuesday, August 2 at 7:00 p.m. for the third installment of the...

Construction Story Time with Bloomington Public Library

Tuesday, August 2, 2022
10:00 AM

We'll read our favorite construction books, sing songs, and play during this special story time. Kids will also receive a plastic hard hat and...

Zoom Genealogy Treasures In Cemetery Records with Suz Bates

Tuesday, July 19, 2022
6:30 PM

"I have found cemeteries I need to visit. How do I even start?" Cemetery, funeral home, and stonecutter records hold clues to your family history...

Saturdays on the Square -- Free Concert

Saturday, July 16, 2022
7:00 PM

Presented by Pantagraph Media and the Castle Theatre in partnership with the city of Bloomington, the series brings regional acts to perform free,...

Pop-Up Lego Construction with Bloomington Public Library

Saturday, July 16, 2022
10:00 AM

Join Bloomington Public Library for a Pop-Up Lego Construction build at 10:00 a.m. This program is free and open to the public.

Children...

Saturdays on the Square -- Free Concert

Saturday, July 9, 2022
7:00 PM

Presented by Pantagraph Media and the Castle Theatre in partnership with the city of Bloomington, the series brings regional acts to perform free,...

Museum Closed in Recognition of July 4th holiday

Monday, July 4, 2022
9:00 AM

The Museum and the Cruisin’ with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center will be closed in recognition of the Fourth of July on Monday, July 4.

First Friday: Get Your "Kicks" on Route 66

Friday, July 1, 2022
5:00 PM

Downtown Bloomington is lucky enough to be positioned along Mother Road, and we look forward to celebrating another unique First Friday with all...

Pop-Up Story Time with Bloomington Public Library

Tuesday, June 28, 2022
10:00 AM

Join Bloomington Public Library every Tuesday in June at the Museum for music and movement, stories, and fun! These programs are free and open...

Back 2 School Supply Drive at the Farmers' Market

Every Sunday 8:30 AM

Back 2 School Supply Drive – We Need your Help!

The McLean County Museum of History and the Downtown Bloomington Farmers’ Market teaming...

Saturdays on the Square -- Free Concert

Saturday, June 25, 2022
6:30 PM

Presented by Pantagraph Media and the Castle Theatre in partnership with the city of Bloomington, the series brings regional acts to perform free,...

Viral Silence: Six Words Concert

Friday, June 24, 2022
7:00 PM

Six Words is a concert-length composition by Edward Breitweiser inspired by local Covid-19 experiences and in collaboration with McLean County...

WGLT Summer Concert

Saturday, June 18, 2022
5:30 PM

The WGLT Summer Concert presented by CEFCU will return to Downtown Bloomington on June 18 for their 20th annual celebration. After a two-year...

BPL Pop Up Lego Construction

Saturday, June 18, 2022
10:00 AM

Join Bloomington Public Library for a Pop-Up Lego Construction build at 9:00 a.m. This program is free and open to the public.

Children...

Museum and BPL Celebrates Juneteenth at Farmers' Market

Saturday, June 18, 2022
10:00 AM

On Saturday, June 18 the Twin Cities area Juneteenth Celebration will take place at Miller Park in Bloomington from noon to 6:00 p.m. Activities,...

City of Bloomington Honorary Street Sign Celebration

Friday, June 17, 2022
6:00 PM

The City of Bloomington would like to cordially invite you to the Honorary Street Sign Celebration in honor of local civil rights and social...

History Makers Gala

Wednesday, June 15, 2022
5:30 PM

Each year, the History Makers Gala recognizes long-standing residents whose outstanding, life-long contributions of time and talents have helped...

Pop-Up Stories with Bloomington Public Library

Every Tuesday 10:00 AM

Join Bloomington Public Library every Tuesday in June at the Museum for music and movement, stories, and fun! These programs are free and open to...

Cogs and Corsets: Dine with the Dead

Saturday, June 4, 2022
11:00 AM

Back by popular demand! Enjoying a picnic in a cemetery was not always a taboo activity. Quite the contrary—a graveside lunch was a leisure...

Cogs and Corsets: A Central Illinois Steampunk Happening

Friday, June 3, 2022
5:00 PM

The Museum is pleased to once again participate in the now fifth annual Cogs & Corsets festival. The Museum will be the site of history...

"Adopt" a Non-Profit: The Back 2 School Alliance School Supply Drive

Wednesday, June 1, 2022
9:00 AM

For this quarter (June through August 6), the Museum will be collecting items for The Back 2 School Alliance School Supply Drive. The Back 2...

CANCELLED- Zoom Lunch & Learn: University-based Innovation Centers are "Making" a Difference

Thursday, May 19, 2022
12:10 PM

On Thursday, May 19, at 12:10 p.m. join the Museum and Illinois Wesleyan University for the final Zoom Lunch & Learn of the 2021-2022 season,...

Virtual 'Lost Speech' Found: Abraham Lincoln and the Founding of the Illinois Republican Party

Wednesday, May 18, 2022
7:00 PM

The ‘Lost Speech’ Found: Abraham Lincoln and the Founding of the Illinois Republican Party- On May 29, 1856, Lincoln gave the keynote address at a...

Zoom MCGS - Census Records from 1950 presented by Tina Beaird

Tuesday, May 17, 2022
6:30 PM

Census Records from1950 with Tina Beaird, author, historian, lecturer, owner of Tamarack Genealogy is a genealogy and local history librarian in...

Zoom MCGS - Census Records from 1950 presented by Tina Beaird

Tuesday, May 17, 2022
6:30 PM

Census Records from1950  with Tina Beaird, author, historian, lecturer, owner of Tamarack Genealogy is a genealogy and local history...

Normal Community High School Experimental Ensemble

Friday, May 13, 2022
7:00 PM

On Friday, May 13 at 7:00 p.m., the Museum, is pleased to host the debut performance of the Normal Community High School Experimental Ensemble,...

McLean County Barn Keepers: Lois Lenski and Corn-Farm Boy

Thursday, May 12, 2022
7:00 PM

Join Barn Keepers on Thursday, May 12 at 7:00 p.m. for a fascinating look at a classic 1950s children's book on Midwest corn farming. Guest...

Zoom Lunch & Learn: University-based Innovation Centers are "Making" a Difference

Thursday, May 12, 2022
12:10 PM

On Thursday, May 12 at 12:10 p.m. join the Museum and Illinois Wesleyan University for the final Zoom Lunch & Learn of the 2021-2022 season, which...

'Tattooing Finds You:' How Tattooists Navigate their World

Tuesday, May 10, 2022
6:30 PM

On Tuesday, May 10 at 6:30 p.m., the Museum welcomes Dr. David C. Lane, assistant professor in the Department of Criminal Justice Sciences at...

Auditions for the 2022 Evergreen Cemetery Walk

Tuesday, May 10, 2022
6:00 PM

Announcing auditions for the 2022 Evergreen Cemetery Walk! Auditions will be held on Tuesday, May 10 from 6:00pm until 9:00pm at First Christian...

Meet the Author! Greg Koos

Saturday, May 7, 2022
9:00 AM

The Museum is pleased to host author and historian Greg Koos, who will be signing copies of his new publication Freedom, Land, and Community:...

Museum Open Early for Farmers' Market

Every Saturday 8:30 AM

Our Museum opens at 8:30 a.m. to all visitors, with free admission until noon! Tour the Museum’s latest exhibits and shop at the surrounding...

High-Risers: Cabrini-Green and the Fate of American Public Housing

Tuesday, May 3, 2022
7:00 PM

All avid readers are welcome to join the Museum and Bloomington Public Library on Tuesday, May 3 at 7:00 p.m. for the second installment of the...

Old Time Music (Jam Session)

Every Tuesday 5:00 PM

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 musicians that try to...

"Looking for Lincoln" Funeral Train Marker Dedication

Tuesday, May 3, 2022
1:00 PM

On Tuesday, May 3 at 1:00 p.m., the Museum, in partnership with Looking for Lincoln and the City of Bloomington, will unveil a new marker to honor...

"Adopt" a Non-Profit: The Baby Fold

Monday, May 2, 2022
9:00 AM

Starting in March, during each quarter of the Museum’s fiscal year, we will be “adopting” a different local nonprofit to help collect much-needed...

Registration Opens for Futures in History Camp

Sunday, May 1, 2022
1:00 PM

Futures in History Camp is back for two in-person sessions in 2022! This unique 5-day camp experience includes facilitation by...

Trades & Labor Fest 2022

Saturday, April 30, 2022
10:00 AM

To highlight industry and industriousness in McLean County—both past and present—the Museum, in partnership with the Bloomington & Normal Trades &...

Bloomington/Normal LGBTQ+ Town Hall

Tuesday, April 26, 2022
6:00 PM

Please join the Prairie Pride Coalition and Equity Illinois for a town hall event that will will include a recap of the recently-ended spring...

Bloomington/Normal LGBTQ+ Town Hall

Tuesday, April 26, 2022
6:00 PM

Please join the Prairie Pride Coalition and Equity Illinois for a town hall event that will will include a recap of the recently-ended spring...

Zoom MCGS - The Underground Railroad Runs Through Here with Janice Lovelace Ph.D

Tuesday, April 19, 2022
6:30 PM

Janice Lovelace PhD, is a genealogical researcher, educator, author, and lecturer, with over 30 years of experience. She is a frequent speaker at...

Mix.Fuze.Evolve: Latin Influence & Contribution to Hip Hop Culture

Saturday, April 16, 2022
6:00 PM

Mix.Fuze.Evolve., an annual fundraiser event for Museum partner BCAI Cultural Arts and Humanities, will bring you an enlightening and...

Zoom Lunch & Learn: COVID-19 Past, Present, and Future- Lessons Learned

Thursday, April 14, 2022
12:10 PM

On Thursday, April 14 at 12:10 p.m. join the Museum and Illinois Wesleyan University for the next Zoom Lunch & Learn which will investigate the...

The David Davis Mansion: 150 Years at Cloverlawn with Dr. Marcia Young

Saturday, April 2, 2022
1:00 PM

On Saturday, April 2 at 1:00 p.m., the Museum is pleased to welcome Dr. Marcia Young, historian and former executive director of the David Davis...

April First Friday & Slow Art Day

Friday, April 1, 2022
5:00 PM

Ready, Set, SLOW! April 2 is Slow Art Day and the McLean County Museum of History, along with eight other Downtown partners, are taking it slow...

Clothesline Project

Friday, April 1, 2022
9:00 AM

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). SAAM is a campaign to raise public awareness about sexual violence and educate communities on how...

pt. fwd presents Jon Mueller

Thursday, March 17, 2022
7:00 PM

The Museum is pleased to partner once again with pt.fwd, a non-profit that organizes contemporary music and sonic arts performances featuring new...

In Memory: Two Years of COVID-19

Friday, March 11, 2022
5:00 PM

The Museum will acknowledge the second anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic and the loss of life McLean County has experienced in that time with a...

Zoom Artists, Advocates, Acrobats, and More! Women Who Made McLean County History with Bloomington Public Library

Thursday, March 10, 2022
7:00 PM

Candace Summers, the Museum’s Director of Community Education, will present a program that will highlight 20 McLean County women, from all walks...

Zoom Lunch & Learn: The Pantagraph - Images to Inform and Inspire with Rochelle Gridley/ Assistant Archivist

Thursday, March 10, 2022
12:10 PM

On Thursday, March 10 at 12:10 p.m. join the Museum and Illinois Wesleyan University for the eighth Zoom Lunch & Learn of the season. Rochelle...

Before Rivian: The Henney Kilowatt--Bloomington's Battery-powered 'Car of Tomorrow'

Sunday, March 6, 2022
1:00 PM

Join Museum Librarian Bill Kemp for a program delving into the history of Henney Kilowatt electric car! Before Rivian: The Henney...

First Friday: Women's History Month - Celebrating Female Entrepreneurs

Friday, March 4, 2022
5:00 PM

Downtown Bloomington is proud to be the chosen home for over 50 female-owned businesses, and we are excited to celebrate them and the ways they...

Women's History Month

Tuesday, March 1, 2022
9:00 AM

Help us celebrate Women’s History Month through all of March with a banner installation designed by local graphic designer...

pt. fwd presents Lia Kohl and Macie Stewart

Saturday, February 26, 2022
7:00 PM

The Museum is pleased to partner once again with pt.fwd, a non-profit that organizes contemporary music and sonic arts performances featuring new...

Presence, Pride, and Passion: Black History in McLean County

Thursday, February 24, 2022
6:00 PM

Presence, Pride, and Passion: Black History in McLean County with Jeff Woodard and Hannah Johnson. Join Museum staff for...

Free Admission: Presidents' Day

Monday, February 21, 2022
9:00 AM

Visitors of all ages are invited to spend a day off with FREE admission all day in recognition of Presidents' Day. Get excited to get out the vote...

Writing the 19th Century in the 21st Century with Greg Koos at the David Davis Mansion

Saturday, February 19, 2022
3:30 PM

The Museum, in partnership with the David Davis Mansion, is pleased to present Writing the 19th Century in the 21st Century with Greg...

Tour de Chocolat

Friday, February 18, 2022
5:00 PM

The Museum is pleased to once again participate in this annual Downtown Bloomington tradition by offering locally made chocolate treats generously...

Museum closed due to inclement weather

Thursday, February 17, 2022
12:00 AM

Due to the forecasted inclement winter weather, the Museum and Visitors Center will be closed Thursday, February 17. We will continue to...

Zoom Lunch & Learn: The NAACP was relevant then, now and forever more!

Thursday, February 10, 2022
12:10 PM

On Thursday, February 10 at 12:10pm join the Museum and Illinois Wesleyan University for the sixth Zoom Lunch & Learn of the season. Local leaders...

Zoom MCGS - Introduction to Heritage Hub and Black Life in America w/ Mimi Davis

Saturday, February 5, 2022
1:00 PM

The Bloomington public Library has two new resources to help you research your family history tree.  Mimi Davis, Electronic Resources...

BSU Local Black Leadership Symposium

Thursday, February 3, 2022
5:00 PM

The Kingsley Junior High School Black Student Union (BSU), in partnership with the Museum, presents the BSU Black Leadership Symposium....

Museum Closed Due to Inclement Weather

Wednesday, February 2, 2022
9:00 AM

Due to the forecasted inclement winter weather, the Museum and Visitors Center will also be closed. We will continue to monitor the extreme...

History Reads Book Club: Stealing Lincoln's Body

Tuesday, February 1, 2022
7:00 PM

All avid readers are welcome to join the Museum and Bloomington Public Library on Tuesday, February 1 at 7:00 p.m. for the fist installment of the...

MUSEUM CLOSED - Staff/Board Retreat

Saturday, January 15, 2022
12:00 AM

The Museum and Visitors Center will be closed to the public on Saturday, January 15, 2022, for a Museum staff and board retreat . ...

Zoom Lunch & Learn: Writing 19th Century County History in the 21st Century

Thursday, January 13, 2022
12:10 PM

On Thursday, January 13 at 12:10 p.m. join the Museum and Illinois Wesleyan University for the fifth Zoom Lunch & Learn of the season. In...

World War II Memorial Rededication

Wednesday, January 5, 2022
1:00 PM

The Museum invites the public to a rededication of the World War II memorial at 1:00 p.m. November 5, 2022, on the east side of the Museum Square....

Museum Closed for New Years Holiday

Friday, December 31, 2021
9:00 AM

Museum Closed for Christmas Holiday

Friday, December 24, 2021
9:00 AM

A Dedication Honoring the Life and Work of Barb Adkins

Saturday, December 18, 2021
2:00 PM

The City of Bloomington is dedicating a bench and a conference room in Barb Adkins' memory. Please join us at 2 p.m. on Saturday Dec 18 outside...

Museum Closed for Professional Development

Monday, December 13, 2021
12:00 AM

The Museum will be closed beginning at 2pm today for staff professional development. If you are needing assistance connecting to the Virtual...

Zoom Writing the 19th Century in the 21st Century with Greg Koos

Saturday, December 11, 2021
1:00 PM

Zoom Freedom, Land, and Community: A History of McLean County Illinois, 1730-1900

The Museum is proud to present a...

Zoom Lunch & Learn: McLean County Economic Update

Thursday, December 9, 2021
12:10 PM

On Thursday, December 9 at 12:10 p.m. join the Museum and Illinois Wesleyan University for the fourth Zoom Lunch & Learn of the season. Patrick...

Museum Closed for Professional Development

Monday, December 6, 2021
12:00 AM

The Museum will be closed beginning at 2pm today for staff professional development. If you are needing assistance connecting to the Virtual...

Christmas Under the Dome

Saturday, December 4, 2021
11:00 AM

Christmas Under the Dome & the Bloomington-Normal Jaycee’s Christmas Parade — Saturday, December 4 from 10:00 to 2:00 p.m. Join the Museum and our...

First Friday: Once Upon a Holiday

Friday, December 3, 2021
5:00 PM

The Museum will boast festive lighting courtesy of Palace Events, a seasonal StoryWalk from our friends at Bloomington Public Library, eggnog and...

Santa on the Square Photo Op

Wednesday, December 1, 2021
9:00 AM

Make more memories this holiday season with Santa on the Square!

Inspired by the iconic Livingston Santas of historic Downtown...

Dayspring Thanksgiving Spirit Drum

Tuesday, November 23, 2021
5:00 PM

This public program is presented by Dayspring Native American United Methodist Church. All community members are welcome to...

Zoom Breaking Bread in McLean County - Sunday Sauce: An Italian Staple

Saturday, November 20, 2021
4:00 PM

Sunday Sauce: An Italian Staple

The Museum, in partnership with BN Welcoming (a coalition of the Immigration Project, Not In Our Town/Not...

Zoom Buckle of the Corn Belt: An Illustrated Tour of McLean County & Everyone's Favorite Grain

Saturday, November 20, 2021
1:00 PM

On Saturday, November 20 at 1:00 p.m., please join the Museum’s Librarian, Bill Kemp, for a free, Zoom webinar that will explore the history of...

MCGS Annual Meeting

Monday, November 15, 2021
6:30 PM

McLean County Genealogical Society program held in the historic Gov. Fifer Courtroom. Annual meeting to include election, approval of budget...

RAILROADERS: What’s Coming Down the Line? – The Railroad in the American Mind with Mike Matejka at Peoria Riverfront Museum

Saturday, November 13, 2021
1:00 PM

MCMH Museum members and friends are invited to take a trip to the Peoria Riverfront Museum on Saturday, November 13 to hear...

Zoom Lunch and Learn: Bloomington/Normal Labor Market During the Covid Era: Are We Different?

Thursday, November 11, 2021
12:10 PM

The Bloomington/Normal Labor Market During the Covid Era: Are we Different?

Michael...

Veterans' Day Ceremony

Thursday, November 11, 2021
10:30 AM

This year’s Veterans Day Observance will be held on Thursday, Nov. 11 on the east side of the McLean County Museum of History in downtown...

Zoom Pitfalls and Promise (II): Public Art for McLean County Today

Saturday, November 6, 2021
1:00 PM

The Museum is pleased to welcome Felix Fiedler, art historian and psychologist from Germany, who will present a program that builds off of this...

The Unconquerable: Kickapoo of Central Illinois at Normal Public Library

Thursday, November 4, 2021
6:00 PM

On Thursday, November 4, at 6:00 p.m., join Bill Kemp, the Museum's Librarian, for a program on the Kickapoo, a fiercely independent people who...

From Slave to State Legislature: John W. E. Thomas Illinois’ First African American Lawmaker

Tuesday, November 2, 2021
7:00 PM

All avid readers are welcome to join the Museum and Bloomington Public Library on Tuesday, November 2 at 7:00 p.m. for the final installment of...

2021 Virtual Evergreen Cemetery Walk

Monday, November 1, 2021
9:00 AM

"

After 27 years, the Evergreen Cemetery Walk continues going strong, while evolving to meet the changing needs of the people whom we...

Museum Closed for Professional Development

Monday, November 1, 2021
12:00 AM

The Museum will be closed beginning at 2pm today for staff professional development. If you are needing assistance connecting to the Virtual...

Baile Tradicional Mexicano

Sunday, October 31, 2021
7:00 PM

Join the Museum in partnership with Afro-Socialist and Black Indigenous People of Color Caucus, BCAI Cultural Arts and Humanities, St. Mary's...

Trunk or Treat with Western Avenue Community Center

Sunday, October 31, 2021
12:00 PM

Join the Museum and other friends for Trunk or Treat at Western Avenue Community Center (600 N. Western Avenue in Bloomington). Put that...

Downtown Bloomington Trick-or-Treat

Friday, October 29, 2021
5:00 PM

Downtown Trick-or-Treat will take place on October 29, 2021, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Join the Museum and all of our...

Museum Closed

Thursday, October 28, 2021
12:00 AM

October 28, all day

The Museum will be closed to the public today for staff professional development and building...

The Night the Stars Fell with Bill Kemp

Tuesday, October 26, 2021
7:00 PM

On Tuesday, October 26 at 7:00 p.m., join Museum Librarian Bill Kemp for a free, zoom webinar that will take program participants back to November...

Día de los Muertos Ofrenda Comunitaria

Saturday, October 23, 2021
9:00 AM

Visit the first floor of the McLean County Museum of History from Saturday, October 23 through Saturday, November 6 to view a community ofrenda in...

Miller Park Zoo Spooktacular

Friday, October 22, 2021
5:00 PM

Find the Museum at Miller Park Zoo on Friday, October 22 and Saturday, October 23 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. for the annual Spooktacular! Ghouls and...

Mapping the Market with ISU Department of Geography, Geology, and the Environment

Saturday, October 16, 2021
9:00 AM

Learn a little bit more about the market and farmers that you love so much at one of the last Downtown Bloomington Farmers' Markets of the season....

Zoom Lunch & Learn: Math is your Friend!

Thursday, October 14, 2021
12:10 PM

Join the Museum and Illinois Wesleyan University for the second Zoom Lunch and Learn of the season. Dan Roberts, Associate Professor of Math, and...

Zoom Breaking Bread in McLean County - America Meets East Asia: Mayonnaise in the Sushi

Tuesday, October 12, 2021
6:00 PM

America Meets East Asia: Mayonnaise in the Sushi

The Museum, in partnership with BN Welcoming (a coalition of the Immigration Project, Not...

First Friday: Bruegala... With a Twist! in Downtown Bloomington

Friday, October 1, 2021
5:00 PM

The Museum is glad to support Bruegala with a Twist in Downtown Bloomington by providing access to bathroom facilities in our Cruisin' with...

Evergreen Cemetery Walk

Saturday, September 25, 2021
11:00 AM

After 27 years, the Evergreen Cemetery Walk continues going strong, while evolving to meet the changing needs of the people whom we serve. This...

McLean County Genealogical Society- Illinois Digital Resources

Saturday, September 18, 2021
1:00 PM

ILLINOIS DIGITAL RESOURCES

Presented by:

Tina Beaird
Author,...

Zoom Breaking Bread in McLean County - Garam Masala Box: Indian American Cooking

Saturday, September 11, 2021
1:00 PM

Garam Masala Box: Indian American Cooking

The Museum, in partnership with BN Welcoming (a coalition of the Immigration Project, Not In Our...

Zoom Lunch & Learn: Beekeeping for Fun and Nature

Thursday, September 9, 2021
12:00 PM

Join the Museum and Illinois Wesleyan University for the first Zoom Lunch and Learn of the 2021-2022 season. Karen Schmidt, local beekeeper, and...

First Friday: Oh Honey!

Friday, September 3, 2021
5:00 PM

Oh Honey! Bee a Dreamer! Bee Yourself! Bee Empowered!

The Museum and Martorana Designs will be hosting Rachel Lapp Whitt’s “Empowered...

9/11: McLean County Remembers

Wednesday, September 1, 2021
2:00 PM

September 11, 2021 marks 20 years since one of the most salient moments of the 21st century: 9/11. History was made on Tuesday, September 11,...

Zoom Vibrant, Resilient, Still Here: Contemporary Native Americans in Illinois

Tuesday, August 31, 2021
6:30 PM

The Museum is pleased to welcome Pam Silas, Associate Director of Community Outreach and Engagement for Northwestern University’s Center for...

McLean County Genealogical Society- Final Resting Place: The Stones Tell a Story

Tuesday, August 17, 2021
6:00 PM

Final Resting Place: The Stones Tell a Story

BY JANE HALDEMAN

SPONSORED BY THE MCLEAN COUNTY...

Knit In at the David Davis Mansion

Saturday, August 14, 2021
10:00 AM

All Knitters and Crocheters are invited to participate in a socially distant, outdoor Knit In on the beautiful grounds of the David Davis Mansion...

Breaking Bread in McLean County- Hot Dog! It Could be Wurst: German Cookery

Tuesday, August 10, 2021
6:00 PM

The Museum, in partnership with BN Welcoming (a coalition of the Immigration Project, Not In Our Town/Not In Our Schools, West Bloomington...

NAACP Youth Council Installation Ceremony

Saturday, August 7, 2021
12:00 PM

The Bloomington-Normal Branch of the NAACP has faithfully served the community for 103 years. Knowing that our century-old Branch was void of a...

A Laesch Family Story- Book Signing

Saturday, August 7, 2021
9:00 AM

Stop by the Museum's Farmers' Market Booth on Washington Street* on Saturday, August 7 from 9am until 12pm where Ellen Laesch Dalrymple will be...

Downtown Dog Days- First Friday

Friday, August 6, 2021
5:00 PM

Come on down to the Museum where we will be hosting an adoption event with Wish Bone Canine Rescue from 5:00-8:00 p.m.! Stop by and play with some...

History Reads Book Club- Ugly Prey: An Innocent Woman and the Death Sentence that Scandalized Jazz Age Chicago

Tuesday, August 3, 2021
7:00 PM

All avid readers are welcome to join the Museum and Bloomington Public Library on Tuesday, August 3 at 7:00 p.m. for the third installment of the...

Zoom Final Resting Place: The Stones Tell a Story with the McLean County Genealogical Society

Tuesday, July 20, 2021
7:00 PM

Discover more about the life of your great grandfather by understanding the symbols on his gravestone. Learn how to read that death date on...

Zoom Abraham Lincoln and the Heritage of Illinois State University

Saturday, July 17, 2021
1:00 PM

The Museum is pleased to host authors Tom Emery and Carl Kasten for a program about Abraham Lincoln’s close ties to Illinois State University, a...

Museum at the Market- Lincoln and Lightning Bugs

Saturday, July 17, 2021
9:00 AM

Stop by the Museum's table on Jefferson Street from 9am until 11am during the Farmer's Market to learn about Lincoln, his travels as a lawyer on...

Breaking Bread in McLean County- Soul, Greens, and Savory Things: Local African American Food Traditions

Saturday, July 10, 2021
1:00 PM

The Museum, in partnership with BN Welcoming (a coalition of the Immigration Project, Not In Our Town/Not In Our Schools, West Bloomington...

Free Admission

Monday, July 5, 2021
9:00 AM

Get Your "Fix" on Route 66 - July First Friday & Pop-Up Art Fair

Friday, July 2, 2021
5:00 PM

Get your history fix on Route 66 this July First Friday! Find your way along the mother of all roads to Downtown Bloomington for art, merch, and...

Back 2 School Supply Drive at the Farmers' Market

Saturday, June 26, 2021
8:30 AM

Back 2 School Supply Drive – We Need your Help!

The McLean County Museum of History and the Downtown Bloomington Farmers’ Market teaming...

Back 2 School Supply Drive

Wednesday, June 23, 2021
9:00 AM

Back 2 School Supply Drive – We Need your Help!

Beginning June 23 through July 26, the Museum will be participating in the Back 2 School...

Did Black Lives Matter in Early Illinois? Voices from the Brink of Slavery and Freedom.

Tuesday, June 22, 2021
6:30 PM

The Museum is pleased to host Dr. Caroline Kisiel, Associate Professor at DePaul University in the School of Continuing and Professional Studies,...

History Makers Gala

Wednesday, June 16, 2021
6:30 PM

We hope you will join us this year on June 16^th in celebration of our 2021 History Makers that include

Zoom Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research: Gem of the Gulf Coast with the McLean County Genealogical Society

Tuesday, June 15, 2021
7:00 PM

Upcoming ZOOM Program sponsored by The McLean County Genealogical Society

Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research: Gem of...

Juneteenth Celebration

Monday, June 14, 2021
6:00 PM

This year, the BNBHP in partnership with the City of Bloomington, will present an entire week of programming beginning on Monday, June 14. In...

Meet the Author! Images of Rail: Central Illinois Train Depots by Thomas Dyrek

Saturday, June 12, 2021
9:00 AM

The Museum is thrilled to host local author Thomas Dyrek, who will be signing copies of his first book featuring images on train depots found...

Breaking Bread in McLean County - Kickapoo Food and Remedies

Tuesday, June 8, 2021
6:00 PM

The Museum, in partnership with BN Welcoming (a coalition of the Immigration Project, Not In Our Town/Not In Our Schools, West Bloomington...

Cogs & Corsets- A Central Illinois Steampunk Happening

Friday, June 4, 2021
4:00 PM

After a year of separation and isolation, Cogs & Corsets is back full steam ahead on June 4-5 to kick off the summer with some fun and whimsy. The...

Museum Closed in Recognition of Memorial Day

Monday, May 31, 2021
12:00 AM

Zoom Lunch & Learn Extra- Rivian: Adventurous Together

Thursday, May 27, 2021
12:00 PM

Join the Museum and Illinois Wesleyan University for a second bonus Zoom Lunch and Learn this season. Laura Ewan, Community Relations Coordinator...

My Ancestor was a Farmer- McLean County Genealogical Society

Tuesday, May 18, 2021
7:00 PM

Many of our ancestors were farmers and they left valuable records including deeds and probate records. From 1937-1946 the Farmer’s Home...

Fit For Preservation: Jack and Jill of America, Inc. National Day of Fitness

Saturday, May 15, 2021
9:00 AM

Every year Jack and Jill of America, Inc. celebrates a National Day of Fitness in the month of May. This year, the Bloomington-Normal chapter of...

Zoom Lunch and Learn -Brahm's Use of Motive to Unify his Three Intermezzi, Opus 117

Thursday, May 13, 2021
12:10 PM

Join the Museum and Illinois Wesleyan University for the final  Zoom Lunch and Learn of the season. Franklin Larey, Director and Professor...

Carrying The Colors: The Life and Legacy of Medal of Honor Recipient Andrew Jackson Smith

Tuesday, May 11, 2021
7:00 PM

The Museum is pleased to host Sharon MacDonald and Robert Beckman, authors of the book Carrying the Colors, and Greg Koos, historian and Emeritus...

Breaking Bread in McLean County - Kaffe, Knäckebröd, & Coal: Swedish-Americans in Central Illinois

Saturday, May 8, 2021
1:00 PM

The Museum, in partnership with BN Welcoming (a coalition of the Immigration Project, Not In Our Town/Not In Our Schools, West Bloomington...

First Friday: Unlock a Piece of History

Friday, May 7, 2021
5:00 PM

Join the Museum and our fellow Downtown businesses and partners for an evening of architectural exploration, shopping, dining, and more. The...

Home Town in the Corn Belt NOW DIGITIZED

Wednesday, May 5, 2021
5:00 PM

Rare 5-volume history set now online!

The Museum, in partnership with Bloomington Public Library, is pleased to announce...

Zoom History Reads Book Club- Death in the Haymarket

Tuesday, May 4, 2021
7:00 PM

All avid readers are welcome to join the Museum and Bloomington Public Library on Tuesday, May 4 at 7:00 p.m. for the second installment of the...

Zoom Lunch and Learn Extra: Assessing the First 100 Days of the Biden Presidency

Thursday, April 29, 2021
12:10 PM

Join the Museum and Illinois Wesleyan University for a bonus Zoom Lunch and Learn this season. It has become a political tradition to take stock...

pt.fwd presents Allen Moore online concert

Saturday, April 24, 2021
7:00 PM

The Museum is pleased to partner once again with pt.fwd, a non-profit that organizes contemporary music and sonic arts performances featuring new...

What Records Do Not Say: McLean County Genealogical Society

Tuesday, April 20, 2021
7:00 PM

Many times, a record only scratches the surface of what was going on when that record was created. This lecture looks at why a record was created...

MCGS- Kathy Michael McLean County Clerk: Resources at the Clerk's Office

Sunday, April 18, 2021
6:30 PM

McLean County Genealogical Society program held in the historic Gov. Fifer Courtroom.

Breaking Bread in McLean County - Ça va, Cassava? The Roots of Congolese Cooking

Tuesday, April 13, 2021
6:00 PM

The Museum, in partnership with BN Welcoming (a coalition of the Immigration Project, Not In Our Town/Not In Our Schools, West Bloomington...

Lunch and Learn: Avoiding a Mid-Life Crisis: The Ecology Action at 50, Looking Back and Moving Ahead

Thursday, April 8, 2021
12:10 PM

Join the Museum and Illinois Wesleyan University for the eighth Zoom Lunch and Learn of this season. What started as a one-day recycling drive in...

Autism Awareness StoryWalk at MCMH

Friday, April 2, 2021
5:00 PM

Come to the square around the McLean County Museum of History in Downtown Bloomington between Friday, April 2, and Sunday, April 11 to follow the...

Zoom Webinar: Artists, Advocates, Acrobats, & More! Women Who Made McLean County History.

Tuesday, March 30, 2021
7:00 PM

Making history has always come naturally to women, and the women of McLean County are no exception. Yet, the stories of these historic women often...

Zoom Webinar- Pitfalls and Promise: Memorializing McLean County's Past

Tuesday, March 23, 2021
6:30 PM

Please join the Museum for a virtual program as we take measure of how McLean County has chosen to remember the past in the form of historic...

Genealogy Giants Podcast on Zoom- McLean County Genealogical Society

Tuesday, March 16, 2021
7:00 PM

Join members of The McLean Genealogical Society as we watch and listen to Sunny Morten provide comparisons between the GENEALOGICAL GIANTS:...

Breaking Bread in McLean County - Johnny Cakes to Paddy Cakes: Irish Cookery

Saturday, March 13, 2021
1:00 PM

The Museum, in partnership with BN Welcoming (a coalition of the Immigration Project, Not In Our Town/Not In Our Schools, and West Bloomington...

12 Months of Covid-19: A Remembrance

Friday, March 12, 2021
5:00 PM

One year ago, on Friday, March 13 at 5:00 p.m., as it became clear that it was only a matter of time before the pandemic arrived in our community,...

Zoom Lunch and Learn: Bloomington-Normal Innovation Alliance: Partnering for Our Digital Future

Thursday, March 11, 2021
12:10 PM

Join the Museum and Illinois Wesleyan University for the seventh Zoom Lunch and Learn of this season. This session will feature Jamie Mathy,...

ZOOM Presence, Pride & Passion: A History of African Americans in McLean County

Tuesday, February 23, 2021
2:15 PM

YWCA McLean County and McLean County Museum of History’s Black History Project are pleased to present a three-day educational series:...

Zoom Billy Sunday: The Baseball Evangelist

Tuesday, February 16, 2021
6:30 PM

The Museum is pleased to present a virtual program with Craig Bishop who will present a webinar on his self-published book, Billy Sunday: The...

Zoom Lunch and Learn: What Is Liberal Education and Why Does It Matter?

Thursday, February 11, 2021
12:10 PM

Join the Museum and Illinois Wesleyan University for the sixth Zoom Lunch and Learn of this season. S. Georgia Nugent, President of Illinois...

Breaking Bread in McLean County - It's All in the Salsa: Mexican Stories of McLean County

Tuesday, February 9, 2021
6:00 PM

The Museum, in partnership with BN Welcoming (a coalition of the Immigration Project, Not In Our Town/Not In Our Schools, and West Bloomington...

February First Friday: Love is in the Air

Friday, February 5, 2021
5:00 PM

Show Downtown Bloomington some love this First Friday! Love is in the air from 5:00-8:00 p.m. on Friday, February 5. Join your favorite galleries,...

Zoom History Reads Book Club- Lincoln in the Bardo

Tuesday, February 2, 2021
7:00 PM

All avid readers are welcome to join the Museum and Bloomington Public Library on Tuesday, February 2 at 7:00 p.m. for the first installment of...

Zoom Lunch and Learn: What Does Fido Know? Inside the Mind of the Dog.

Thursday, January 14, 2021
12:00 PM

Join the Museum and Illinois Wesleyan University for the fifth Zoom Lunch and Learn of this season. Ellen Furlong, Associate Professor of...

Writing a 19th Century County History in the 21st Century with Greg Koos

Wednesday, January 13, 2021
12:10 PM

Writing a 19^th Century County History in the...

Cruisin' with Lincoln - Last Chance Christmas Shopping!

Saturday, December 19, 2020
10:00 AM

Due to the resounding success of Small Business Saturday, we have decided to reopen one last time before Christmas so you can get some last minute...

Birds of a Feather Flock Together: Where Do Birds Nest in Bloomington-Normal

Thursday, December 10, 2020
12:10 PM

Join the Museum and Illinois Wesleyan University for the fourth Zoom Lunch and Learn of this season. Given Harper, Professor of Biology at...

Zoom Webinar: McLean County Holiday Stories

Tuesday, December 8, 2020
6:30 PM

Please join the Museum for a fun and exciting virtual program of holiday stories that is sure to bring back fond memories of holidays of...

Santa on the Square Photo Op

Wednesday, December 2, 2020
12:00 AM

Make new memories this historic season with Santa on the Square!

Brought to you by the City of Bloomington and the McLean County Museum of...

Zoom Lunch and Learn - 5G High Speed and Antennas Everywhere

Thursday, November 12, 2020
12:10 PM

Join the Museum and Illinois Wesleyan University for the third Zoom Lunch and Learn of this season. Jamie Mathy, Council Member for the City of...

Zoom History Reads Book Club: Corn Kings & One-Horse Thieves

Wednesday, November 4, 2020
7:00 PM

All avid readers are welcome to join the Museum and Bloomington Public Library on Wednesday, November 4 at 7:00 p.m. for the final installment of...

Halloween Virtual Party: Style in Stereo!

Friday, October 30, 2020
5:00 PM

Tune in for a live performance of spooky songs by local band, Style in Stereo! Enjoy a few jokes and laughs all while participating in our virtual...

Día de los Muertos Community Ofrenda

Saturday, October 24, 2020
7:00 PM

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) originated in Mexico over 3,000 years ago and is increasingly celebrated throughout Latin America and the...

2020 Election: History in the Making

Thursday, October 8, 2020
12:10 PM

Join the Museum and Illinois Wesleyan University for the next Zoom Lunch and Learn. Robert Bradley, Professor Emeritus, Politics & Government at...

2020 Virtual Evergreen Cemetery Walk

Saturday, October 3, 2020
9:00 AM

Join us for the 2020 Virtual Evergreen Cemetery Walk! The video production of the Virtual Walk will be viewable through the...

First Friday Art & Architecture Crawl

Friday, October 2, 2020
5:00 PM

The Annual Art & Architecture hunt is on, with a twist! This year the event will be spread over a week-long period and will include works of art...

A Community in Conversation Part 3: Who Has the Power to be Heard?

Tuesday, September 29, 2020
6:00 PM

Join us for the online relaunch of the program series, A Community in Conversation, as we again ask ourselves, "Who Has the Power?" Women’s...

The Evergreen Cemetery Walk Reimagined

Saturday, September 12, 2020
2:00 PM

Join McLean County Museum of History’s Director of Education Candace Summers for a program on the Museum’s longest running and most successful...

Your Brain at the Bat: How Neural Activity Can Inform Baseball Performance

Thursday, September 10, 2020
12:10 PM

Jason Themanson, Chair and Professor of Psychology, Illinois Wesleyan University

This Zoom presentation will explore how looking...

Forward into Light- Light Up the Museum Square

Friday, August 28, 2020
5:00 PM

The McLean County Museum of History is pleased to participate in commemorating this seminal moment in U.S. women’s history, celebrating the...

Celebrating the Voting Power of Women

Wednesday, August 26, 2020
5:30 PM

On Aug . 26 , 1920 , eight days after it had been ratified, the 19th Amendment was declared in effect by Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby,...

2020 Virtual Evergreen Cemetery Walk: Ticket Sales Begin

Monday, August 17, 2020
11:00 AM

Ticket are now on sale for the 2020 Virtual Evergreen Cemetery Walk. Tickets can be purchased by

Facebook Live Event: March of the Women- Music for the 100th Annivesary of Suffrage

Saturday, August 8, 2020
1:15 PM

The Museum, in partnership with the League of Women Voters of McLean County, are pleased to host a virtual program with musician Phil Passen, who...

Zoom History Reads Book Club

Tuesday, August 4, 2020
7:00 PM

All avid readers are welcome to join the Museum and Bloomington Public Library on Tuesday, August 4 at 7:00 p.m. for the second installment of the...

Liberty Brought Us Here: The True Story of American Slaves Who Migrated to Liberia

Saturday, August 1, 2020
1:30 PM

The Museum is pleased to present a virtual program with Susan E. Lindsey who will present a webinar on her new book, Liberty Brought Us Here:...

Making a Museum Virtual Workshop with the University of Illinois Extension

Friday, July 31, 2020
1:30 PM

Join the McLean County Museum of History and the University of Illinois Extension for a crash course in what it takes to make a museum! Find out...

The Emancipation Proclamation and Lincoln’s Evolving Views on Slavery

Saturday, July 18, 2020
1:00 PM

Even though Lincoln’s Festival on Route 66 has been postponed until 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it does not stop us from learning about one...

A Community in Conversation: Who Has the Power to Define Morality?

Tuesday, April 28, 2020
6:45 PM

The final in the series will take place in the Museum’s Governor Fifer Courtroom on Tuesday, April 28 at 6:45 p.m.  Join members of...

A Community in Conversation: Who Has the Power to be Heard?

Saturday, March 21, 2020
12:00 PM

Due to public health concerns, we are hosting our next

Harriet Emma Dean Powell with Prof. Marcia Thomas

Thursday, March 12, 2020
12:10 PM

From the battlefields of Shiloh and Vicksburg to the top of Pikes Peak and further west, John Wesley Powell and his wife Emma Dean spent the first...

9 Wonder Women of Toys

Tuesday, March 10, 2020
7:15 PM

In toys and games, as with so many fields of endeavor, women’s significant accomplishments have often been overlooked by history.

Join...

F1rst Fr1day - Discovering Youth Artists

Friday, March 6, 2020
5:00 PM

The Museum will host live, original performances by students of female-founded and supported

A Community in Conversation: Who Has the Power to Get an Equal Education?

Thursday, February 27, 2020
4:00 PM

The second in a series of programs will take place at Heartland Community College on Thursday, February 27 at 4:00 p.m. in the Community...

Knit In at Bloomington Public Library

Saturday, February 22, 2020
10:00 AM

The next Knit In will be Saturday, February 22 from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. in the Community Room at Bloomington Public Library. Registration...

Museum Closed for Professional Development

Thursday, February 20, 2020
12:00 AM

Invaluable Lincoln Document Unveiling

Saturday, February 15, 2020
11:00 AM

Bloomington-Normal-The McLean County Museum of History is pleased to announce the donation of a remarkable Abraham Lincoln...

The Civil Rights Prints of Billy Morrow Jackson Exhibition Opens

Saturday, February 15, 2020
10:00 AM

The McLean County Museum of History announces a temporary exhibit featuring eight prints by Billy Morrow...

The Illinois Small Business Development Center of McLean County at IWU

Thursday, February 13, 2020
12:10 PM

Bring your lunch and and enjoy the free Lunch and Learn series on the second Thursday each month, September through May. This program is a...

Exploring the community of Noble-Wieting: a 700-year-old Native American village in McLean County

Saturday, February 8, 2020
1:15 PM

During the Mississippian period (1000-1400 AD), the largest prehistoric North American city existed right here in Illinois. The rise and fall of...

F1rst Fr1day- Tour de Chocolat

Friday, February 7, 2020
5:00 PM

The Museum is pleased to once again participate in this annual Downtown Bloomington tradition by offering locally made chocolates generously...

The Starved Rock Murders

Tuesday, February 4, 2020
7:00 PM

All avid readers are welcome to join us on Tuesday, February 4 at the McLean County Museum of History for the History Reads Book Club....

A Community in Conversation: Who Has the Power to Choose Their Work?

Tuesday, January 28, 2020
6:45 PM

In an age of underemployment and ever-increasing wage disparity, we invite you to join representatives of Laborers Local 362, Illinois Partners...

Wet or Dry? Prohibition in McLean County (and how it didn't work!)

Thursday, January 16, 2020
7:00 PM

On Thursday, January 16, Candace Summers, Director of Education at the McLean County Museum of History, will present an illustrated program on...

Museum Closed for Professional Development

Thursday, January 16, 2020
12:00 AM

The Central Illinois Roots of Lloyd Loar and the Iconic F-5 Mandolin

Thursday, January 9, 2020
12:10 PM

Presented by James Stanlaw, Professor of Anthropology, Illinois Wesleyan University. Every serious mandolinist knows the name of Lloyd...

Route 66 Miles of Possibility Conference

Thursday, October 17, 2019
8:00 AM

This year's annual conference will be themed ""Under the Big Top"" because of the Bloomington- Normal's history with circuses, dating to the...

Evergreen Cemetery Walk- 25th Anniversary

Saturday, October 5, 2019
11:00 AM

Twenty-five years ago, the Museum, Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, and Illinois Voices Theatre—Echoes came together to solve a growing problem in our...

Evergreen Cemetery Walk: Tickets on Sale Today

Tuesday, September 3, 2019
9:00 AM

Tickets for the 25^th Evergreen Cemetery Walk, October 5-6 & 12-13, go on sale.  Tickets cost $17.00 for non-members, $15.00 for...

Museum Closed for Labor Day

Monday, September 2, 2019
12:00 AM

A History of the Evergreen Cemetery Walk

Thursday, August 29, 2019
7:00 PM

Join Director of Education Candace Summers for a program on the Museum’s longest running and most successful outreach program, the Evergreen...

Futures in History Camp

Monday, July 8, 2019
8:30 AM

Abraham Lincoln may have never said, ""The best way to predict your future is to create it."" But, it is a fine sentiment nonetheless! And,...

Museum Closed for Fourth of July Holiday

Thursday, July 4, 2019
12:00 AM

Futures in History Camp

Monday, June 17, 2019
8:30 AM

Abraham Lincoln may have never said, ""The best way to predict your future is to create it."" But, it is a fine sentiment nonetheless! And,...

Auditions for the 2019 Evergreen Cemetery Walk

Tuesday, June 11, 2019
6:00 PM

Auditions for the October 2019 Evergreen Cemetery Walk will be in the McLean County Museum of History second floor courtroom from 6:00 p.m. until...

Cogs and Corsets: A Central Illinois Steampunk Happening

Friday, June 7, 2019
9:00 AM

The Museum is pleased to once again participate in the now third annual Cogs & Corsets festival. The Museum will be the site of history...

Museum Closed for Memorial Day

Monday, May 27, 2019
12:00 AM

McLean County Genealogical Society Monthly Meeting: Encore Presentation of the 2018 Evergreen Cemetery Walk

Tuesday, May 21, 2019
7:00 PM

Join the Museum and members of the McLean County Genealogical Society on Tuesday, May 21 at 7:00 p.m. for a special showing of the recorded 2018...

Register for Futures in History Camp 2019

Monday, April 15, 2019
10:00 AM

Register for Futures in History Camp 2019

Calling all future historians! Registration for the 2019 season of Futures in History...

Museum Closed for Professional Development

Thursday, January 17, 2019
12:00 AM

Museum closed, weather

Saturday, January 12, 2019
12:00 AM

Museum Closed for New Years

Monday, December 31, 2018
12:00 AM

Museum Closed for Christmas Holiday

Monday, December 24, 2018
12:00 AM

Museum Will Be Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday

Thursday, November 22, 2018
12:00 AM

The Evergreen Cemetery Walk - Commemorating the Bicentennial of Illinois

Saturday, October 6, 2018
11:00 AM

McLean County celebrates 200 years of history this year. Since 1824, people began settling the land that would later become McLean county. The...

The Evergreen Cemetery Walk - Commemorating the Bicentennial of Illinois

Saturday, September 29, 2018
11:00 AM

McLean County celebrates 200 years of history this year. Since 1824, people began settling the land that would later become McLean county. The...

Evergreen Cemetery Walk Ticket Sales Begin

Tuesday, September 4, 2018
9:00 AM

Ticket sales begin for the 2018 Evergreen Cemetery Walk, celebrating the Bicentennial of Illinois. Dates for this year's Walk are Saturdays and...

Museum Closed in Observance of Labor Day

Monday, September 3, 2018
12:00 AM

A History of the Evergreen Cemetery Walk

Thursday, August 30, 2018
7:00 PM

Join Director of Education Candace Summers for a program on the Museum’s longest running and most successful outreach program, the Evergreen...

Illinois Office of Tourism Doors Open! - Free Museum Admission All Day

Saturday, August 11, 2018
9:00 AM

Lincoln's Festival on Route 66

Friday, July 20, 2018
10:00 AM

It’s time once again for the annual Lincoln’s Festival on Route 66, this year being held on July 20, 21, and 22. Activities during the...

Futures in History Camp Session II

Monday, July 9, 2018
8:00 AM

Calling all future historians! Registration for the 2018 season of Futures in History Camp at the McLean County Museum of History is...

Museum Closed for Fourth of July

Wednesday, July 4, 2018
12:00 AM

Futures in History Camp Session I

Monday, June 18, 2018
8:00 AM

Calling all future historians! Registration for the 2018 season of Futures in History Camp at the McLean County Museum of History is...

Cogs & Corsets: A Central Illinois Steampunk Happening

Friday, June 1, 2018
9:00 AM

Prepare yourself for splendor this June when the Museum will once again participate in the annual Cogs & Corsets: A Steampunk Happening festival,...

Museum Closed for Memorial Day

Monday, May 28, 2018
12:00 AM

The Walls Speak: Telling ISU's Story Through its Campus Buildings

Saturday, April 7, 2018
1:00 PM

Past and present Redbirds will want to flock to the Museum at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 7 when Illinois State University archivist April...

Museum Closed for Professional Development

Thursday, March 15, 2018
12:00 AM

Museum Closed for Professional Development

Thursday, February 15, 2018
12:00 AM

Museum Closed for Professional Development

Thursday, January 18, 2018
12:00 AM

Museum CLOSED - New Year's Day

Monday, January 1, 2018
12:00 AM

Museum CLOSED for Christmas Holiday

Monday, December 25, 2017
12:00 AM

Evergreen Cemetery Walk

Saturday, September 30, 2017
11:00 AM

Every year the Evergreen Cemetery Walk brings the voices of McLean County's history to life. Costumed actors portray individuals representing all...

MUSEUM CLOSED

Thursday, September 28, 2017
12:00 AM

A History of the Evergreen Cemetery Walk

Thursday, September 7, 2017
7:00 PM

Join Director of Education Candace Summers for a program on the Museum’s longest running and most successful outreach program, the Evergreen...

Museum Closed in Observance of Labor Day

Monday, September 4, 2017
12:00 AM

Futures in History Camp

Monday, July 24, 2017
8:00 AM

Calling all future historians! Registration for the 2017 season of Futures in History Camp (formerly known as History Careers Day Camp) at the...

McLean County Genealogical Society Meeting - Blooming Grove Cemetery with Steve Alvis and Dave Ashbrook

Tuesday, July 18, 2017
6:00 PM

The July 18, 2017 meeting of the McLean County Genealogical Society will take place beginning at 6 p.m. at the Blooming Grove Cemetery. A tour of...

Lincoln's Festival on Route 66

Friday, July 14, 2017
10:00 AM

Lincoln's Festival on Route 66

The new Lincoln’s Festival on Route 66:“Trails, Rails, & Roads”, takes place...

Museum Closed in Observance of 4th of July

Tuesday, July 4, 2017
12:00 AM

Futures in History Camp

Monday, June 12, 2017
8:00 AM

Calling all future historians! Registration for the 2017 season of Futures in History Camp (formerly known as History Careers Day Camp) at the...

Cogs and Corsets: A Steampunk Happening

Friday, June 2, 2017
5:00 PM

The Cogs & Corsets festival takes place throughout six square blocks of historic Downtown Bloomington. This area is home to over 90 shops,...

Museum Closed In Observance of Memorial Day

Friday, May 19, 2017
12:00 AM

Clothesline Project in the Rotunda - Free Admission All Week

Monday, April 24, 2017
9:00 AM

The McLean County Museum of History will be partnering with YWCA’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month for the 2017 weeklong Clothesline Project...

Registration Open for Futures in History Camp

Tuesday, April 11, 2017
8:00 AM

Calling all future historians! Registration for the 2017 season of Futures in History Camp (formerly known as History Careers Day Camp) at the...

New Years - Museum closed

Saturday, December 31, 2016
12:00 AM

Christmas Holiday - Museum closed

Saturday, December 24, 2016
12:00 AM

Christmas Holiday- Museum closed

Mon Dec. 26 00:00 2016

The Museum will be closed on Monday,...

ISU Civic Chorale presents Holiday Beginnings

Tuesday, December 20, 2016
7:30 PM

ISU Chorale Holiday Concert

Join us in the historic Gov. Fifer Courtroom for a holiday concert with the Illinois State University Civic...

Cruisin' 12 Days of Christmas Promotion Begins

Saturday, December 10, 2016
9:00 AM

We are once again going to offer a 12 days of Christmas promotion in the Gift Shop with a sale on the following category of items. 10% for...

Lincoln in McLean County presented by Bill Kemp

Thursday, December 8, 2016
12:10 PM

From 1854 to 1860, Bloomington was an important stage in Abraham Lincoln's rise as the leader and moral voice of the movement to halt slavery's...

Christmas at the Courthouse

Saturday, December 3, 2016
11:00 AM

Join us this holiday season for a day of festive activities with musical performances, children's crafts, storytelling, holiday treats, a visit...

Once Upon a Holiday

Friday, December 2, 2016
5:00 PM

Join us for the Downtown Bloomington Association’s Once Upon a Holiday on Friday evening, December 2, 2016 5-8 p.m. Come and see the live window...

Under the Dome Knit-In

Saturday, November 12, 2016
10:00 AM

Under the Dome Knit In- helping those in need, one stitch at a time!

Veterans Day Observance

Friday, November 11, 2016
10:00 AM

This year's ceremony will commence at 11 minutes before 11 a.m. with the color guard firing one round each minute until 11 a.m. Veterans Day...

The End of the Horse on Corn Belt Farms: McLean County Barns in the 1940s pesented by Bill Kemp

Thursday, November 10, 2016
7:00 PM

Bill Kemp, librarian at the McLean County Museum of History, will be the featured speaker for the annual meeting of the McLean County Barn Keepers...

Route 66 in McLean County presented by Terri Ryburn

Thursday, November 10, 2016
12:10 PM

Route 66 celebrates its 90th birthday this year!Based on Terri Ryburn's award-winning 1995 guidebook, "Route 66: Goin' Somewhere (The Road in...

The Bootlegger: A Story of Small Town America by John E. Hallwas

Tuesday, November 1, 2016
7:00 PM

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Literally! Read all about local and regional history with the quarterly History Reads Book Club, a joint program...

Bill Kemp presents at Irish Autumn Social

Sunday, October 30, 2016
4:00 PM

Join our friends with the Irish Heritage Society and see Librarian Bill Kemp in action!

Sunday October 30, 2016
4-7 p.m.
Historic...

DBA Howl at the Market

Saturday, October 29, 2016
5:30 PM

DBA Howl at the Market, Saturday, October 29, 7:30 a.m. until noon.

This Halloween themed Farmers' Market on the Museum Square invites...

DBA F1rst Fr1day Halloween Trick or Treat with a Twist

Friday, October 28, 2016
5:00 PM

Visit the Museum of History for a twist on treats ( non-candy) for the kids from 5-8 p.m.

Illinois Route 66 Miles of Possibility Conference

Thursday, October 20, 2016
12:00 AM

The Second Annual Route 66 Miles of Possibility Conference will be held in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois this year from October 20-23....

Evergreen Cemetery Walk 2016

Saturday, October 1, 2016
11:00 AM

After 22 years, the Evergreen Cemetery Walk continues going strong!This year’s roster of eight McLean County individuals will share stories of how...

A History of the Evergreen Cemetery Walk

Thursday, September 8, 2016
7:00 PM

Join the Museum's Director of Education, Candace Summers, for a program exploring the Evergreen Cemetery Walk. This event is the Museum's longest...

Evergreen Cemetery Walk: Tickets on Sale Today

Tuesday, September 6, 2016
9:00 AM

Tickets cost $17.00 for non-members, $14.00 for Museum members, $5.00 for students with ID and children. Buy them at least 24 hours in advance and...

Labor Day - Museum closed

Monday, September 5, 2016
12:00 AM

Museum Participating in 2016 Bruegala

Friday, August 26, 2016
6:00 PM

The Museum is honored to have been selected as one of six non-profits that will benefit from the 2016 Brüegala, a charity beer and wine festival...

Abraham Lincoln Route 66 Festival

Thursday, July 14, 2016
10:00 AM

Back 2 School Supply Drive at Farmers' Market!

Saturday, July 9, 2016
8:00 AM

The McLean County Museum of History and the Downtown Bloomington Association are teaming up and bringing the Back 2 School Supply Drive to the...

Museum Closed In Observance of Independence Day

Monday, July 4, 2016
12:00 AM

Museum Closed for Memorial Day

Monday, May 30, 2016
12:00 AM

The Irish in Evergreen Cemetery Bloomington

Tuesday, April 19, 2016
6:30 PM

April 19, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. The Irish Heritage Society and the McLean County Genealogical Society will co-sponsor “The Irish in Evergreen Cemetery...

History Careers Day Camp Registration Begins

Friday, April 8, 2016
9:00 AM

Calling all future historians! Registration for the 2016 season of History Careers Day Camp at the McLean County Museum of History is...

Greg Koos Retirement Reception 4-7 p.m.

Thursday, March 31, 2016
4:00 PM

John Wesley Powell, Stephen Alfred Forbes, and the Illinois Natural History Society at Illinois State (Normal) University presented by Bill Kemp

Thursday, February 11, 2016
4:00 PM

John Wesley Powell, Stephen Alfred Forbes, and the Illinois Natural History Society at Illinois State (Normal) University presented by Bill Kemp,...

Lunch and Learn - The Liberal Arts College presented by Jonathan Green, Provost, IWU

Thursday, February 11, 2016
12:10 PM

The "Liberal Arts College" is a uniquely American contribution to higher education. Universities around the world are using it as a best-practice...

Attraction to Crime and Crimminals

Tuesday, February 9, 2016
12:10 PM

Attraction to Crime and Criminals presented by Amanda Vicary, IWU Assistant Professor of Psychology

Exploring people’s...

"What’s Coming Down the Line?" with historian Mike Matejka

Sunday, February 7, 2016
2:00 PM

On Sunday, February 7, come to the "What’s Coming Down the Line?" program and take a...

DBA Tour de Chocolat

Friday, February 5, 2016
5:00 PM

The McLean County Museum of History and BEER NUTS, Inc. have teamed up once again for the 2016 Tour de Chocolat' during the...

Presidents' Day Open House 12-3 pm

Friday, February 5, 2016
12:00 PM

Presidents’ Day 2016 at the McLean County Museum of History will be a celebration of America’s great righthand men because this...

History Reads Book Club: The Negro in Illinois: The WPA Papers edited by Brian Dolinar

Tuesday, February 2, 2016
7:00 PM

All avid readers are welcome to join us on February 2 at the Museum for the first History Reads Book Club of 2016. The...

Challenges, Choices, & Change: Making a Home - Exhibit Grand Opening

Monday, January 18, 2016
10:00 AM

The Museum is preparing to unveil the first of five new exhibit galleries, ushering in a new era for how we connect visitors and students in...

Science Fiction made into Science Reality with IWU Professor of Physics Gabe Spalding

Tuesday, January 12, 2016
12:10 PM

Science Fiction made into Science Reality with IWU Professor of Physics Gabe Spalding

Come enjoy a few videos illustrating how we’ve...

Christmas Holiday - Museum Closed

Thursday, December 24, 2015
12:00 AM

"Carols in the Courtroom" presented by ISU Civic Chorale

Tuesday, December 15, 2015
7:30 PM

Get in the Christmas Spirit with this beautiful concert of carols. Tuesday December 15 at 7:30p.m. at the McLean County Museum...

Making Poetry Matter: Poetry and the Archive in the 21st Century with Joanne Diaz

Thursday, December 10, 2015
12:10 PM

Archives provide poets with a way to capture the past and retool it for their own uses. Many poets have turned to archives to exhume some of...

Christmas at the Courthouse

Saturday, December 5, 2015
11:00 AM

The Twin Cities’ annual Jaycees Christmas parade ends each year at the doorsteps of one the community’s largest free holiday...

Once Upon a Holiday

Friday, December 4, 2015
5:00 PM

Join us for the Downtown Bloomington Association's Once Upon a Holiday Friday evening, December 4, 5-8 p.m. Come and see the live window...

Book Lovers Holiday - Meet authors & historians

Saturday, November 28, 2015
10:00 AM

Guebert, Fraker, Cobb headline Thanksgiving weekend holiday event

Get out of the house after your...

Thanksgiving Day - Museum closed

Thursday, November 26, 2015
12:00 AM

Bobbin Lace Makers Demonstration

Thursday, November 19, 2015
1:00 PM

Bobbin lace making dates back further than the 14th Century. The ancient art is practiced in many countries including Belgium, Ireland and France...

Urban Barns: Livery Stables in Bloomington-Normal

Thursday, November 12, 2015
7:00 PM

Museum Librarian and Pages From the Past author Bill Kemp will present Urban Barns: Livery Stables in Bloomington-Normal at the upcoming...

Ask the Architect presented by Russel Francois

Thursday, November 12, 2015
12:10 PM

To hire or not? When should you hire an architect? What is a custom house? What does an architect do? What does a contractor do? Who is...

Veterans Day Observance

Wednesday, November 11, 2015
10:30 AM

This year's Veterans Day Observance will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 11 on the east side of the McLean County Museum of History...

Under the Dome Knit-In

Saturday, November 7, 2015
10:00 AM

Knitters and crocheters—mark your calendars for the next Under the Dome Knit-In on Saturday, November 14! The Museum welcomes all knitters and...

History Reads Book Club - Lincoln's Manager: David Davis by Willard L. King

Tuesday, November 3, 2015
7:00 PM

The final History Reads Book Club of 2015 is going on the road! All avid readers are invited to the David Davis Mansion on November 3 to join in...

Downtown Trick or Treat

Friday, October 30, 2015
5:00 PM

The Museum and Visitors Center will participate in the annual Downtown Merchant Trick or Treat – 5-7 p.m.

Visit the...

Barbara Egger Lennon: Teacher, Mother, Activist with Tina Brakebill

Saturday, October 24, 2015
1:30 PM

The Museum is pleased to announce that Tina Brakebill, author and Illinois State University instructor, will be delivering a talk about her most...

Under That Rock, Look What I Found - A Genealogical Journey of Discovery

Tuesday, October 20, 2015
7:00 PM

Mr. James Weirman, MCGS Librarian and Board member will present a slide show entitled, " Under that Rock, Look What I Found- A Genealogical...

Common Sense Counseling presented by Julia Madden Bozarth

Thursday, October 8, 2015
12:10 PM

Positive communication skill to practice in ever relationship: workplace, parenting, friendships, couples, social settings, as well as common...

Evergreen Cemetery Walk

Saturday, October 3, 2015
11:00 AM

With the Evergreen Cemetery Walk entering its third decade, the Museum and our partners, Evergreen Memorial Cemetery and...

Reception for Bill Kemp's 500th Column in The Pantagraph

Saturday, September 19, 2015
10:30 AM

Normal 1-5-0 History Fair

Sunday, September 13, 2015
12:00 PM

History Fair 12-5 p.m.

Organizations, businesses and individuals are invited to show off their Normal memorabilia at the Normal History...

Normal 1-5-0 Celebration

Saturday, September 12, 2015
4:30 PM

The Museum is proud to team up with the Town of Normal and other community partners to celebrate 150 years of Normal. Public events will include a...

Exploring Pluto with Linda French

Thursday, September 10, 2015
12:10 PM

The latest results from the NASA New Horizons flyby through the Pluto system will be discussed with IWU Professor of Physics, Linda French. ...

Evergreen Cemetery Walk Tickets Go on Sale

Tuesday, September 8, 2015
9:00 AM

With the Evergreen Cemetery Walk entering its third decade, the Museum and our partners, Evergreen Memorial Cemetery and...

Museum Closed in Observance of Labor Day

Monday, September 7, 2015
12:00 AM

The Museum will be closed on Monday September 07, 2015 in observance of the Labor Day and will reopen on Tuesday September 08, at 9:00...

Under the Dome Knit-In

Saturday, August 15, 2015
10:00 AM

Knitters and crocheters—mark your calendars for the next Under the Dome Knit In on Saturday, August 15 from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.! The Museum...

How Corn Changed Itself and then Changed Everything Else with Cynthia Clampitt

Tuesday, August 11, 2015
7:00 PM

The Museum is pleased to announce that Cynthia Clampitt, self-proclaimed “fourth generation foodie” and author of Midwest Maize: How Corn...

The Land of Milk and Uncle Honey

Saturday, August 8, 2015
10:30 AM

The Museum is pleased to host nationally syndicated agricultural columnist Alan Guebert and his daughter Mary Grace Foxwell, who will present a...

McLean County Agriculture Discussion - McLean County Farm Bureau building

Wednesday, August 5, 2015
9:00 AM

Museum seeks public input for new farming exhibit

The McLean County Museum of History is seeking public input for a brand new exhibit on...

The Farmer from Merna: A Biography of George J. Mecherle

Tuesday, August 4, 2015
7:00 PM

History Reads Book Club -The Farmer from Merna: A Biography of George J. Mecherle

This free quarterly program is open to the public. It is...

History Career Day Camp Session III

Monday, July 27, 2015
8:30 AM

Collaborators for Emancipation: Abraham Lincoln and Owen Lovejoy with William and Jane Ann Moore

Saturday, July 18, 2015
2:00 PM

The Museum is pleased to welcome retired UCC ministers and historians William and Jane Ann Moore...

Lincoln News Conference presented by George Buss and Robert Lenz

Saturday, July 18, 2015
1:00 PM

Lincoln News Conference

July 18, 1:00 – 2:00pm Governor Fifer Courtroom, McLean County Museum of History, 200 North Main Street,...

Encounters with Lincoln

Friday, July 17, 2015
6:00 PM

On Friday, July 17 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. the Museum is pleased to host Encounters with Lincoln’s Bloomington, which...

Lincoln's Festival in Bloomington

Friday, July 17, 2015
5:00 PM

July 17-19 at various sites around Bloomington

Museum Events July 17 and 18

Encounters with Lincoln's Bloomington July 17 from 5:00 to...

Back 2 School Supply Drive July 6 through August 1

Monday, July 6, 2015
9:00 AM

Back 2 School Supply Drive – We Need your Help!

From July 6 through August 1 the Museum will be participating in the Back 2 School...

History Career Day Camp Session II

Monday, July 6, 2015
8:30 AM

Museum Closed for 4th of July Holiday

Saturday, July 4, 2015
12:00 AM

4th Annual History Makers Gala

Thursday, June 25, 2015
5:30 PM

Each year, the History Makers Gala recognizes senior citizens whose outstanding, lifelong contributions of time and talents have helped...

History Careers Day Camp - Session I

Monday, June 15, 2015
8:30 AM

History Career Day Camp Session I June 15 - June 19, 2015

WGLT 2015 Summer Concert

Saturday, June 13, 2015
3:30 PM

The WGLT Summer Concert is the best street party in town on the Museum Square in downtown Bloomington.

For more information visit: ...

DBA Route 66 Cruise In

Saturday, June 6, 2015
3:00 PM

DOWNTOWN BLOOMINGTON ROUTE 66 CRUISE IN
"Get your kicks on Route 66"

The Downtown Bloomington Association, in partnership with the...

Under the Dome Knit-In

Saturday, May 16, 2015
10:00 AM

Under the Dome Knit-In

Knitters and crocheters—mark your calendars for the next Under the Dome Knit-In on Saturday, May 16! The Museum...

The History of Cycling in Illinois with Chris Sweet, Associate Professor of English Info Literacy Librarian

Thursday, May 14, 2015
12:10 PM

It is often forgotten that from 1890 until about 1930 bicycling reigned supreme as the most popular sport in America. Bicycle racers were...

The Forgotten Storm: The Great Tri-State Tornado of 1925 by Wallace E. Akin

Tuesday, May 5, 2015
7:00 PM

History Reads Book Club

All avid readers are welcome to join us on May 5 at the McLean County Museum of History for the second History...

Volunteer Reception

Wednesday, April 29, 2015
6:30 PM

The annual Volunteer Reception will be held Wednesday evening , April 29, at 6:30 in the historic Gov. Fifer Courtroom.. Recognition, laughs,...

"Cruisin' with Lincoln on 66" Visitors Center Grand Opening

Saturday, April 25, 2015
10:00 AM

Saturday, April 25 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
200 N. Main Street, Bloomington, IL 61701

Join us for this free public event to...

Stephen P. Thomas to discuss the career of Illinois Sculptor Lorado Taft

Tuesday, April 14, 2015
7:00 PM

Co-editor to Speak on the Career of Illinois Sculptor Lorado Taft

Please join the McLean County Museum of History in welcoming Stephen P....

Segregation—Our Community's Secret presented by Dr. Mark Wyman

Saturday, April 11, 2015
1:30 PM

Segregation—Our Community's Secret

The Museum is pleased to welcome back Dr. Mark Wyman, who will present a program on the now...

Furnishing the Soul: Medieval Maps, Meditation, and Metaphor

Thursday, April 9, 2015
12:10 PM

Professor Dan Terkla with Illinois Wesleyan University provides a new context in which to think about how some world maps from the twelfth and...

Route 66 Hall of Famer and author Chester D. Henry presents, "Route 66, My Home Away from Home"

Saturday, March 28, 2015
1:00 PM

On Saturday, March 28, at 1:00, we invite you to take a tour down memory lane along the country's Mother Road—historic Route 66. Join retired...

Lincoln’s Two Trips between Springfield and Washington presented by author Guy Fraker

Thursday, March 12, 2015
12:10 PM

In February 1861 Lincoln left Springfield on his long circuitous route to Washington. In April 1865 Lincoln's body returned on the same route to...

Lincoln Practiced Law Here: Summary of the Archaeological findings of the Lincoln Era Courthouse presented by Floyd Mansberger

Saturday, February 28, 2015
1:00 PM

Join the Museum for an afternoon exploring the archaeological findings unearthed about the Lincoln era courthouse, McLean County's second...

Under the Dome Knit-In

Saturday, February 21, 2015
10:00 AM

Knitters and crocheters—mark your calendars for the next Under the Dome Knit-In on Saturday, February 21! The Museum welcomes all knitters and...

Presidents' Day

Monday, February 16, 2015
12:00 PM

Presidents' Day is a family friendly event on February 16 from 12:00-4:00. All activities will be free and open to the public. In anticipation of...

Backdoor Scholarship: A Report on the John Updike Childhood Home by James Plath, IWU Professor of English

Thursday, February 12, 2015
12:10 PM

As head of the John Updike Society, James Plath led efforts to purchase the childhood home of John Updike. He will discuss the transformation of...

Tour de Chocolat

Friday, February 6, 2015
5:00 PM

The McLean County Museum of History will participate in this year's annual DBA Tour de Chocolat. Visitors will enjoy chocolate covered

When the Mississippi Ran Backward: Empire, Intrigue, Murder and New Madrid Earthquakes by Jay Feldman

Tuesday, February 3, 2015
7:00 PM

This free quarterly program is open to the public. It is held in the historic Gov. Fifer Courtroom. Each book session begins at 7:00 p.m. and...

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday - Free Admission

Monday, January 19, 2015
10:00 AM

MUSEUM CLOSED DUE TO SCHEDULED POWER OUTAGE

Saturday, January 17, 2015
12:00 AM

The McLean County Museum of History will be closed for the day on Saturday, January 17 due to a scheduled power outage in the...

New Year's - Museum Closed

Wednesday, December 31, 2014
12:00 AM

The Museum will reopen Friday, Jan. 2.

Museum Closed

Wednesday, December 24, 2014
12:00 AM

Lunch and Learn - Private corporations vs. the Sheriff's Office: Does it matter who manages your foreclosure?

Thursday, December 11, 2014
12:10 PM

The legal process to foreclose on a residential property is a deliberate and time-consuming affair. How expedient is the county's Sheriff's...

Christmas at the Courthouse

Saturday, December 6, 2014
11:00 AM

"Christmas at the Courthouse" has become a time honored tradition.

The McLean County Museum of History opens its doors to...

Once Upon a Holiday

Friday, December 5, 2014
5:00 PM

On Friday, Dec. 5 from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m., the Museum will offer free admission during the Downtown Bloomington Association's "Once upon a...

Thanksgiving Day - Museum closed

Thursday, November 27, 2014
12:00 AM

Under the Dome Knit-In

Saturday, November 15, 2014
10:00 AM

Grab your friends, needles, hooks and yarn and stop by the Museum to “knit for a bit”. Light refreshments will be provided. This program is free...

Lunch and Learn- Decoding Dogs: The Psychology of Man's Best Friend with Ellen Furlong at BPL

Thursday, November 13, 2014
12:00 PM

Dogs and humans have a long and close association spanning thousands of years. However, in many respects, dogs are still a mystery to us. How do...

Annual Veterans Day Ceremony

Tuesday, November 11, 2014
10:30 AM

Join Us for the Annual Veterans Day Ceremony

For several generations, McLean County has commemorated Veterans Day on the Courthouse Square...

"The Irish Way: Becoming American in the Multiethnic City" presented by author James R. Barrett

Saturday, November 8, 2014
1:00 PM

James R. Barrett, author of The Irish Way: Becoming American in the Multiethnic City, will lead a program on the nature...

Tri-Valley School District Honors Local Veterans

Friday, November 7, 2014
10:00 AM

On Friday, Nov. 7, the Tri-Valley School District will honor a large contingent of local veterans with a unique and powerful celebration. The...

History Reads Book Club: Reading with Lincoln by Robert Bray

Tuesday, November 4, 2014
7:00 PM

Join us at the Bloomington Public Library at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 4 in the Adult Services Quiet Reading Room for the final History Reads...

Book Lovers "Road Show"

Friday, October 24, 2014
5:00 PM

Held in the historic Gov. Fifer courtroom from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Jack Walsdorf will discuss Bloomington native Elbert Hubbard's connection to...

20th Annual Evergreen Cemetery Walk

Saturday, October 11, 2014
11:00 AM

Evergreen Cemetery Walk 2014

DATES: Saturday, October 4, Sunday, October 5 Saturday, October 11, Sunday, October...

Back to the Future? The Shape of Higher Education in the 21st Century

Thursday, October 9, 2014
12:10 PM

Professor Frank Boyd, associate provost and professor at Illinois Wesleyan University, will present his take on higher education, the change in...

20th Annual Evergreen Cemetery Walk

Saturday, October 4, 2014
11:00 AM

DATES: Saturday, October 4, Sunday, October 5 Saturday, October 11, Sunday, October 12

PERFORMANCE TIMES: 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m....

McLean County Genealogical Society presents "Find-A-Grave"

Tuesday, September 16, 2014
7:00 PM

For details please email MCGS at mcgs.events@gmail.com or phone Eleanor Mede at 309-454-2688 or Sara
Cushing at 309-828-9848.

For Love of Neighbor: One Campus and One Community

Thursday, September 11, 2014
12:10 PM

Join us at the Bloomington Public Library, when IWU Chaplain Rev. Elyse Winger will lead a discussion which examines the question, "In this post...

A Date with the Museum

Tuesday, September 2, 2014
6:00 PM

On Tuesday, September 2nd the Museum will offer free Monical's pizza from 6 to 8 PM to college students who bring their student IDs. The...

Under the Dome Knit-In

Saturday, August 16, 2014
10:00 AM

Grab your friends, needles, hooks and yarn and stop by the Museum to "knit for a bit".  Light refreshments will be provided.   This...

History Reads Book Club - The Devil in the White City at Bloomington Public Library

Tuesday, August 5, 2014
7:00 PM

The Devil in the White City - Erik Larson. This program is free and open to the public.

Back 2 School Party

Saturday, August 2, 2014
2:00 PM

Supplies from the annual Back 2 School Supply Drive will be handed out between 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. at the U. S. Cellular Coliseum, and...

Illinois Tourism Road Show: The Museum's future visitor's center

Wednesday, July 30, 2014
3:00 PM

The Illinois Office of Tourism, the Bloomington-Normal Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and the Museum will hold a news conference in our historic...

History Careers Day Camp - Session III

Monday, July 28, 2014
8:30 AM

A one week educational and interactive camp brought to you by the McLean County Museum of History, in collaboration with the David Davis Mansion...

Bilingual Story Time Program at Bloomington Public Library

Saturday, July 26, 2014
11:00 AM

On Saturday, July 26, the Museum and Bloomington Public Library will present another Bilingual Story Time open to families. It will begin at 11:00...

"Lincoln Tales: Tall and True with Austin Gulihur" presented by Brian "Fox" Ellis

Saturday, July 19, 2014
11:00 AM

Join the Museum in welcoming back Brian "Fox" Ellis, acclaimed Central Illinois storyteller and folklorist, who will share a mix of history and...

Lincoln's Festival in Bloomington

Saturday, July 19, 2014
10:00 AM

Annual Lincoln’s Festival in Bloomington events set for July 18 – 20

The McLean County Museum of History will be part of the annual...

Encounters with Lincoln's Bloomington

Friday, July 18, 2014
5:00 PM

On Friday, July 18 5-8 p.m. spend a delightful evening enjoying a series of “Encounters with Lincoln's Bloomington”, in Downtown Bloomington. ...

History Careers Day Camp - Session II

Monday, July 7, 2014
8:30 AM

A one week educational and interactive camp brought to you by the McLean County Museum of History, in collaboration with the David Davis Mansion...

Back 2 School Supply Drive

Saturday, July 5, 2014
12:00 PM

Beginning July 5 through August 8, the Museum will be participating in the Back 2 School Alliance School Supply Drive to help collect school...

Red Cross of the Heartland Blood Drive

Saturday, July 5, 2014
8:00 AM

On Saturday, July 5 with the McLean County Museum of History as part of the Farmer’s Market and Artist Alley event, the American Red Cross...

Museum Closed - Happy Independence Day

Friday, July 4, 2014
12:00 AM

History Careers Day Camp Begins

Monday, June 23, 2014
8:30 AM

A one week educational and interactive camp brought to you by the McLean County Museum of History, in collaboration with the David Davis Mansion...

WGLT Summer Concert on the Museum Square

Saturday, June 14, 2014
5:00 PM

Special Museum...

Miller Park Zoo 123rd Birthday Party

Saturday, June 14, 2014
11:00 AM

Miller Park Zoo celebrates its 123rd birthday from 11am to 3pm and the party is free with paid Zoo admission.

Look for historic images...

Illegal: Reflections of an Undocumented Immigrant

Tuesday, June 10, 2014
7:00 PM

Illegal: Reflections of an Undocumented Immigrant

  The Museum is pleased to welcome José Ángel N., who will present a program about...

DBA Bloomington Route 66 Cruise-In / "Route 66- Then and Now and Stories from the Road" with author John Weiss

Saturday, June 7, 2014
2:00 PM

Bloomington Route 66 Cruise-In Saturday, June 07, 2014 2:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

The Downtown Bloomington Association teams up with the...

Memorial Day - Museum is Closed

Monday, May 26, 2014
12:00 AM

Cemeteries and Graves: American Historical and Literary Perspectives with Dr. John Hallwas

Tuesday, May 20, 2014
7:00 PM

"The Museum in partnership with the McLean County Genealogical Society is pleased to welcome Illinois historian and Distinquished Professor...

Under the Dome Knit-In

Saturday, May 17, 2014
10:00 AM

"Under the Dome Knit- In

Saturday, May 17 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Grab your friends, needles, hooks and yarn and stop by the...

The History of Cycling in Illinois presented by Chris Sweet , Associate Professor Info Literacy Librarian

Wednesday, May 14, 2014
12:10 PM

It is often forgotten that from 1890 until about 1930 bicycling reigned supreme as the most popular sport in America. Bicycle racers were...

Chocolate: A Rich Dark History presented by William Munro

Thursday, May 8, 2014
12:10 PM

Dr. William Munro teaches courses in International Politics, African Politics, Conflict Areas in the Global South, Development Theory, and Social...

History Reads Book Club: Rising Tide

Tuesday, May 6, 2014
7:00 PM

Join us to discuss the book, Rising Tide, on Tuesday May 6 in the Gov. Fifer Courtroom. Copies of the book can be checked out at your...

ISO presents Lincoln's Legacy

Saturday, May 3, 2014
8:00 PM

The ISO will present Lincoln’s Legacy at 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 3 at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts. The live concert will...

DBA Farmers' Market on Museum Square

Saturday, May 3, 2014
8:30 AM

The Farmers Market is located on the Museum Square in Downtown Bloomington and offers consumers local foods, baked goods, and art every Saturday...

Volunteer Recognition Reception

Wednesday, April 30, 2014
6:00 PM

Join us at the McLean County Museum of History as we honor ""Our Volunteer Family!"" That's the theme of this year's volunteer reception, which...

Day of the Child/Day of the Book

Saturday, April 26, 2014
11:00 AM

"Museum to participate in El Dia de Los Niños/El Dia de los Libros celebration

In our continuing educational programming for the ¡Fiesta!...

Foreclosures in McLean County presented by Dr. Diego Mendez-Carbajo

Thursday, April 10, 2014
12:10 PM

Dr. Mendez Carbajo is Chair and Associate Professor of Economics at IWU. Mendez-Carbajo's research is in the area of macroeconomics within an...

Furnishing the Soul: Medieval Maps. Mediation, and Metaphor presented by Dan Terkla, IWU Professor of English

Wednesday, April 9, 2014
12:10 PM

Prof. Dan Terkla provides a new context in which to think about how some world maps from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries were used. He argues...

"A Day Long to be Remembered: Lincoln in Gettysburg" with Dr. Michael Burlingame and Robert Shaw

Tuesday, March 25, 2014
7:00 PM

The Museum is pleased to welcome author and renowned Abraham Lincoln scholar Dr. Michael Burlingame, and professional landscape photographer,...

The Irish in America: The "Ethnic Fade That Didn't Happen

Saturday, March 22, 2014
1:00 PM

The Irish in America: The “Ethnic Fade” That Didn’t Happen

The Museum welcomes James Rogers, director of the University of St. Thomas...

New Urbanism: What It Is, and Why It's Normal with Mayor Chris Koos

Thursday, March 13, 2014
12:10 PM

Chris Koos, a Town of Normal council member since 2001, became mayor in 2003. He is owner of Vitesse Cycle Shop and Often Running, retail...

"Old Hoss" the original play by Jared Brown

Friday, March 7, 2014
7:00 PM

The Museum of History, in collaboration with Illinois Voices Theatre, will present the original play ""Old Hoss"" by Jared Brown in March. In the...

History Reads Book Club

Thursday, March 6, 2014
7:00 PM

History Reads Book Club in partnership with the Bloomington Public Library

Sundown Towns by James Loewen

The rescheduled book club...

Under the Dome Knit-In

Saturday, February 22, 2014
10:00 AM

Knitting has been around for thousands of years and has a rich history. To preserve the history of this ancient and traditional craft, the Museum...

Presidents' Day Open House 2014

Monday, February 17, 2014
12:00 PM

"Presidents’ Day OPEN HOUSE

The Museum will be hosting another Presidents’ Day celebration on February 17th from 12 – 4 p.m. This year we...

New Light on Abraham Lincoln's Oldest Manuscript

Thursday, February 13, 2014
12:10 PM

"New Light on Abraham Lincoln's Oldest Manuscript presented by Ken Clements, Professor of Mathematics, ISU and Nerida Ellerton, Professor of...

DBA F1rst Friday February: 2014 Tour de Chocolat & Chocolat Challenge

Friday, February 7, 2014
5:00 PM

"The Tour de Chocolat' is just what the name implies! Participating downtown businesses offer chocolate samples and additional events. The...

Braceros on the Boundaries: Activism, Race, Masculinity, and the Legacies of the Bracero Program

Wednesday, February 5, 2014
7:00 PM

The Museum is pleased to welcome Dr. Mireya Loza, assistant professor in the Department of Latina/o Studies and History at the University of...

History Reads Book Club - CANCELLED Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism by James Loewen

Tuesday, February 4, 2014
7:00 PM

Due to harsh weather, this event has been cancelled.

____________________________________

History Reads Book Club is a joint...

Asteroids: Rogues and Rosetta Stones presented by Dr. Linda French

Sunday, January 19, 2014
12:10 PM

"Dr. Linda French received her B.A. in astronomy from Indiana University and a Ph.D. in planetary astronomy from Cornell University. Her...

Museum Closed

Tuesday, December 31, 2013
12:00 AM

Museum Closed

Tuesday, December 24, 2013
12:00 AM

DBA Indoor Farmers' Market

Saturday, December 21, 2013
10:00 AM

Indoor Farmers' Market Begins Saturday, December 21, 2013  10:00 AM -12PM

The market is open  every third Saturday through...

Mayor of Bloomington: Full-Time Job, Part-Time Pay, and No Honeymoon

Thursday, December 12, 2013
12:10 PM

Collaborative Solutions Institute, Illinois Wesleyan University and the McLean County Museum of History will resume Lunch and Learn sessions in...

Quilt Raffle

Saturday, December 7, 2013
3:00 PM

Tickets cost $1 each or 6 for $5. They will remain on sale at the Museum through Saturday, December 7 when the winner’s name will be drawn at the...

Christmas at the Courthouse

Saturday, December 7, 2013
11:00 AM

Christmas at the Courthouse

Once Upon a Holiday F1rst Fr1day Event

Friday, December 6, 2013
5:00 PM

On Friday evening, December 6; from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. the Museum will participate in the Downtown Bloomington Association Once upon a...

Under the Dome Knit-In

Saturday, November 16, 2013
10:00 AM

Knitting has been around for thousands of years and has had a long and rich history. To preserve the history of this ancient and traditional...

The Whole World is Texting: Global Youth Protest and the Uses of Social and Digital Media and the Cases of Chile, Spain, and the United States.

Thursday, November 14, 2013
12:10 PM

Collaborative Solutions Institute, Illinois Wesleyan University and the McLean County Museum of History will resume Lunch and Learn sessions in...

Irish Drinking and Its American Stereotype with Richard Stivers

Saturday, November 9, 2013
1:00 PM

The Museum is pleased to welcome Dr. Richard Stivers, distinguished professor emeritus of Sociology at Illinois State University, who...

History Reads Book Club

Tuesday, November 5, 2013
7:00 PM

Join the Museum and Bloomington Public Library for a discussion of Christiana Holmes Tillson's  ""A Woman's Story of Pioneer...

Unlocking the meaning of the Day of the Dead: Perspectives of El Dia de Los Muertos

Saturday, November 2, 2013
10:00 AM

Saturday, November 2 from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

McLean County Museum of...

Escaping Hitler: A Jewish Haven in Chile presented by Eva Goldschmidt Wyman

Tuesday, October 29, 2013
7:00 PM

Eva Goldschmidt Wyman will discuss her new book, " Escaping Hitler:  A Jewish Haven in Chile. The book is Wyman's personal story of her...

The Bloomington-Normal Circus Legacy: The Golden Age of Aerialists

Tuesday, October 22, 2013
7:00 PM

Maureen Brunsdale and Mark Schmitt will discuss their new book on Bloomington-Normal aerialists. This program is free and open to the...

Sculpting Light and Sound for Medicine and Science

Thursday, October 10, 2013
12:10 PM

Collaborative Solutions Institute, Illinois Wesleyan University and the McLean County Museum of History will resume Lunch and Learn sessions in...

Evergreen Cemetery Walk

Saturday, October 5, 2013
11:00 AM

The Evergreen Cemetery Discovery Walk brings the voices of McLean County’s history to life. Costumed actors portray individuals representing all...

Migrant Home Making, Reshaping the Heartland: Latino Diasporic Settlement and Cultural Practice in Rural America

Saturday, September 21, 2013
1:00 PM

Dr. Aide Acosta, visiting assistant professor of American and Latino Studies at Indiana University, will discuss the history of migratory...

Exhibit Opening: The Asian Indian Experience in McLean County

Saturday, September 7, 2013
1:00 PM

Join us for a special program presented in honor of those who assisted and participated in the Museum's ongoing Asian Indian History Project, and...

Cemetery Walk Tickets on Sale

Tuesday, September 3, 2013
8:00 AM

The Evergreen Cemetery Discovery Walk brings the voices of McLean County’s history to life. Costumed actors portray individuals representing all...

Under the Dome Knit-In

Saturday, August 31, 2013
10:00 AM

The Museum welcomes all knitters and crocheters to come down and create charity items or work on your own project. Information about the...

Bilingual Story Time

Wednesday, August 7, 2013
11:00 AM

The Museum and Bloomington Public Library are teaming up for this...

History Careers Day Camp Session III

Monday, July 29, 2013
7:00 PM

The third and final session of our History Careers Day Camp.

A Soldier's Story: The Ghost of Andrew Lewis

Saturday, July 20, 2013
1:00 PM

In conjunction with Lincoln’s Festival in Bloomington, join the Museum...

Lincoln Festival

Saturday, July 20, 2013
10:00 AM

Celebrate Lincoln's legacy in Bloomington-Normal and enjoy Civil War re-enactments, music, demonstrations, talks and a walking tour of Lincoln...

History Reads Book Club

Friday, July 19, 2013
7:20 PM

Join the Museum and Bloomington Public Library for the third installment of the...

Desperadoes: Notorious Outlaws of Early Illinois with John Hallwas

Saturday, July 13, 2013
1:00 PM

Join us in welcoming Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Illinois Wesleyan University, Dr. John Hallwas. Dr. Hallwas is a writer, speaker, and...

History Maker's Gala

Thursday, June 13, 2013
5:30 PM

The History Makers gala recognizes senior citizens whose out-standing, lifelong contributions of time and talents have helped to make McLean...

DBA Indoor Farmers' Market

Saturday, April 20, 2013
10:00 AM

Lunch & Learn: Feeding by the Unseen

Thursday, April 11, 2013
12:00 PM

Foreclosures in McLean County, presented by Deigo Mendez-Carbajo, Chair and Associate Professor of Economics at IWU

Wednesday, April 10, 2013
12:10 PM

Dr. Mendez-Carbajo's research is in the area of macroeconomics within an economic union and he has published articles on the productivity gains...

Irish Heritage Genealogy Workshop

Saturday, March 23, 2013
9:00 AM

Time: 9 am to 4 pm. 

Lunch & Learn

Thursday, March 14, 2013
12:00 PM

Cecilia Sanchez. Adjunct Professor of Hispanic Studies, IWU, will discuss different genres of Latin American music from the countries of...

New Urbanism: What It Is, and Why It's Normal with Chris Koos, Mayor of the Town of Normal

Wednesday, March 13, 2013
12:10 PM

Chris Koos, a Town of Normal council member since 2001, became mayor in 2003. He is the owner of Vitesse Cycle Shop and Often Running, retail...

Fiesta! Forever: A Celebration in Poetry

Tuesday, March 12, 2013
7:30 PM

Fiesta, Forever! A Celebration in Poetry! Poets from the community read poems composed in response to the museum’s exhibit Fiesta! A Celebration...

A Soldier's Story

Tuesday, February 26, 2013
7:00 PM

The Museum is pleased to welcome Robert Davis, Civil War re-enactor and historian, who will present his one man presentation, A Soldier's Story: ...

President's Day Open-House

Monday, February 18, 2013
12:00 PM

Bring your whole family down to the McLean County Museum of History for our annual FREE Presidents’ Day Open House on February 18th from 12 – 4...

Farmer's Market

Saturday, February 16, 2013
10:00 AM

Located in Basement and 1st floor.
10:00 a.m. until Noon.

Admission to the Museum during this time is FREE. The Winter Farmers' Market...

Lunch and Learn: Digging Deep

Thursday, February 14, 2013
12:00 PM

Digging Deep: IWU's Peace Garden and the Local Food Movement. Discussion with James Simeone. This program is held on the second Thursday of each...

Under the Dome Knit-In

Saturday, February 9, 2013
10:00 AM

Knitting has been around for thousands of years. The Museum welcomes all knitters and crocheters to come down and create charity items or work on...

History Reads Book Club

Tuesday, February 5, 2013
7:00 PM

The book club is a partnership between the Bloomington Public library and the the McLean County Museum of History. The focus is on books about...

DBA Indoor Farmers' Market

Friday, January 18, 2013
10:00 AM

Indoor Farmers’ Market Begins Saturday, December 21, 2013  10:00 AM -12PM

McLean County Museum of History located on Museum Square,...

American Legion Post 635 and 56 Tribute to The Four Chaplains

Friday, February 3, 0023
11:00 AM

The American Legion Post 635  and 56 Honor/Color Guard will honor the Four Chaplains with a guest speaker in the courtroom on the...