Events
View our listing of upcoming events and programs. Looking for past events? Find them on our list of past events. To view recordings of past events, or to tune into a livestream, visit our YouTube channel.
Every Tuesday at 5:00pm
Old Time Music (Jam Session)
Join the Old Time Music group every Tuesday from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Museum. A laid back and diverse group of musicia...
Artists, Advocates, Acrobats & More: Women Who Made McLean County History with Candace Summers
Experience history through the stories of these remarkable women of McLean County. Meet Florence Fifer Bohrer, the first woman Ill...
SOLD OUT- Downtown Bloomington Architecture Tour with Candace Summers
Many of the buildings in downtown Bloomington are 100-plus years old, and each has a story to tell, if you know where to look. Joi...
Museum Closed for Memorial Day
The Museum and its Cruisin' with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center & Gift Shop will be closed for the Memorial Day holiday. W...
Heartland Theatre 2026 Annual 10-Minute Play Festival: Route 66
22nd Year of 10-Minute Plays – 8 Winners of the international competition on stage with the theme, “Route 66.”Ventura Highway, On ...
Heartland Theatre 2026 Annual 10-Minute Play Festival: Route 66
22nd Year of 10-Minute Plays – 8 Winners of the international competition on stage with the theme, “Route 66.”Ventura Highway, On ...
Heartland Theatre 2026 Annual 10-Minute Play Festival: Route 66
22nd Year of 10-Minute Plays – 8 Winners of the international competition on stage with the theme, “Route 66.”Ventura Highway, On ...
Heartland Theatre 2026 Annual 10-Minute Play Festival: Route 66
22nd Year of 10-Minute Plays – 8 Winners of the international competition on stage with the theme, “Route 66.”Ventura Highway, On ...
Heartland Theatre 2026 Annual 10-Minute Play Festival: Route 66
22nd Year of 10-Minute Plays – 8 Winners of the international competition on stage with the theme, “Route 66.”Ventura Highway, On ...
Heartland Theatre 2026 Annual 10-Minute Play Festival: Route 66
22nd Year of 10-Minute Plays – 8 Winners of the international competition on stage with the theme, “Route 66.”Ventura Highway, On ...
Cruisin' through the Century
Travel through time on Route 66 in McLean County to celebrate the centennial! You’ll experience Chenoa in the 1920s, Lexington in ...
Heartland Theatre 2026 Annual 10-Minute Play Festival: Route 66
22nd Year of 10-Minute Plays – 8 Winners of the international competition on stage with the theme, “Route 66.”Ventura Highway, On ...
Heartland Theatre Company 10-Minute Play Festival: Route 66 performance and panel discussion
Route 66: The Mother Road through McLean County panel discussionJoin the Museum, Heartland Theatre Company, and Sprague's Sup...
Heartland Theatre 2026 Annual 10-Minute Play Festival: Route 66
22nd Year of 10-Minute Plays – 8 Winners of the international competition on stage with the theme, “Route 66.”Ventura Highway, On ...
Heartland Theatre 2026 Annual 10-Minute Play Festival: Route 66
22nd Year of 10-Minute Plays – 8 Winners of the international competition on stage with the theme, “Route 66.”Ventura Highway, On ...
Heartland Theatre 2026 Annual 10-Minute Play Festival: Route 66
22nd Year of 10-Minute Plays – 8 Winners of the international competition on stage with the theme, “Route 66.”Ventura Highway, On ...
2026 History Makers Gala
The 2026 History Makers Gala will take place on Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at Illinois State University's Brown Ballroom in the...
Exhibit Opening: A More Perfect Union at the McLean County Arts Center
Join us on Juneteenth for the opening of A More Perfect Union: A Community Exhibition Commemorating America 250. All are welcome f...
FREE Admission in Honor of Juneteenth
Enjoy free admission on Friday, June 19 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in honor of Juneteenth. ...
Guided Social Justice Walking Tour
The McLean County Museum of History is offering a Social Justice Walking Tour on Thursday, June 25 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. to explo...
Lincoln & The Declaration of Independence with Guy Fraker
On Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. author and historian Guy Fraker will trace the influence of the Declaration of Independenc...
Looking for Lincoln- Lincoln and Douglas Marker Dedication
Looking for Lincoln- Lincoln and Douglas Marker DedicationOn Friday, July 3rd at 2:00 p.m., the Museum, in partnership with Lookin...
Closed for Fourth of July
The Museum and its Cruisin' with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center & Gift Shop will be closed in observance of the July 4th h...
Looking for Lincoln in Downtown Bloomington- a walking tour with Norris Porter
Bloomington is one of the richest communities for Abraham Lincoln-related sites—some of which look much as they did during his lif...
More Than A Game: A Community History of Baseball and Softball exhibit opening
Save the date! The Museum's next temporary exhibit, More than a Game: A Community History of Baseball and Softball, will open...
The ISU Quad: Gateway to America 250 and the Wider World
Join the McLean County Museum of History for a fun and fact-filled stroll through Illinois State University's Quad on Saturda...
History Reads Book Club: The Promise of the Grand Canyon
All are welcome to join the Museum and Bloomington Public Library on Tuesday, August 4 at 7:00 p.m. for the third History Reads Bo...
Knit In at Normal Public Library
Calling ALL Knitters and Crocheters, grab your needles and hooks, some yarn, a friend or two, and come and knit for a bit!The thir...
A History of Bicycling in Illinois with Christopher Sweet
The Museum, in partnership with Bloomington Public Library, will host Illinois Wesleyan University professor Chris Sweet for a pro...
Get Your Farm History Kicks Along Route 66 Bus Trip
While most drivers enjoy the convenience and speed of Interstate 55 from Bloomington to Chenoa, others prefer taking a leisurely t...
John Wesley Powell: Bloomington-Normal to the Arid Lands with Bill Kemp
John Wesley Powell: Bloomington-Normal to the Arid Lands or the American Dream and the Exploitation of the West and Its PeoplesJoi...
Downtown Bloomington Architecture Tour
Many of the buildings in downtown Bloomington are 100-plus years old, and each has a story to tell, if you know where to look.Join...
Looking for Lincoln in Downtown Bloomington- a walking tour with Norris Porter
Bloomington is one of the richest communities for Abraham Lincoln-related sites—some of which look much as they did during his lif...
Closed for Labor Day
The Museum and our Cruisin' with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center & Gift Shop will be closed in observance of Labor Day. We ...
Looking for Lincoln in Downtown Bloomington- a walking tour with Norris Porter
Bloomington is one of the richest communities for Abraham Lincoln-related sites—some of which look much as they did during his lif...
Democracy Dialogues: "All Men Are Created Equal"
In collaboration with our community partners, we’re hosting five events to facilitate intergenerational dialogue about American De...
History Reads Book Club: Onward to Chicago-Freedom Seekers and the Underground Railroad
All are welcome to join the Museum and Bloomington Public Library on Wednesday, November 4 at 7:00 p.m. for the final History Read...
Knit In at the Museum
Calling ALL Knitters and Crocheters, grab your needles and hooks, some yarn, a friend or two, and come and knit for a bit!The fina...
Democracy Dialogues: "Consent of the Governed"
In collaboration with our community partners, we’re hosting five events to facilitate intergenerational dialogue about American De...
Closed for Thanksgiving
The Museum and its Cruisin' with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center & Gift Shop will be closed in observance of Thanksgiving. ...
Closed for Thanksgiving
The Museum and its Cruisin' with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center & Gift Shop will be closed in observance of Thanksgiving. ...