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Christmas

A Community in Conflict

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1966
In 1965 the Bloomington-Normal NAACP decided it was time to challenge how the community viewed local businesses that discriminated.

Digital Exhibit

Articles

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Community Christmas ‘sing’ once annual event
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the cancellation of countless holiday gatherings, school pagea...

Article

This illustration of the new Griesheim Building appeared in a 1901 Bloomington Business Men’s Association promotional piece touting the city’s reconstruction efforts after the Great Fire of June 19, 1900.

Great Fire couldn’t dampen Christmas spirit
The holiday season of 1900 brought more changes than usual for area shoppers flocking to downto...

Article

two men stand next to a pail, with a salvation army sign

Holidays bring turbulent year of ’68 to a close
Fifty years ago this week, December 1968, fast-approaching Christmas and New Year’s afforded ma...

Article

Located at the corner of Madison and Monroe streets in downtown Bloomington, this building served as the McLean County jail from 1882 to 1977.

Homemade Christmas dinner once a McLean County jail tradition
“Unfortunate souls who spend Christmas Day in the county jail will at least have a tasty dinner...

Article

The two giant Santas looming over the entryway to local retailer Livingston’s can be seen in this circa late 1950s photograph.

In 1955, downtown Bloomington 'dressed in holiday style'
Back in 1955, Bloomington was less than half its current size, toys were still made in America,...

Article

Santa's

Intrepid Pantagrapher paid visit to Santa’s North Pole
In 1897, 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon famously wrote the New York Sun newspaper to ask if that ...

Article

a large crowd is seen in front of Ensenberger Furniture store and the W.B.READ & CO buildings.

Spirits high for Depression-era Christmas
During the 1936 Christmas season, Americans faced an Ebenezer Scrooge writ large — the hard tim...

Article

a family stands in front of a fireplace, looking at stockings hanging

War’s end makes Christmas ’45 extra special
On Dec. 22, 1945, President Harry Truman switched on the twinkling lights of the nation’s Chris...

Article

Blog

7 items

All I Want for Christmas … Lincoln School First Graders, 1965
Back in early December 1965, these six-year-old first graders from Lincoln School in Bloomingto...

Blog Post

Bright Lights in Time for Christmas Downtown Bloomington, December 1958
On Dec. 19, 1958, Bloomington Mayor Robert McGraw threw a ceremonial switch to light about half...

Blog Post

Courthouse Caroling December 23, 1935
The ninth annual “Community Christmas Carol Sing” was held on the McLean County Courthouse Squa...

Blog Post

Herman Glaser, December 1952 Stanford’s Toy Maker
During the 1952 holiday season Stanford resident and retired farmer Herman Glaser displayed sev...

Blog Post

Museum Celebrates Return of Iconic Livingston Santa, Public Art to Downtown Bloomington

Blog Post

Museum Saving Santa, Bringing Back a Beloved Central Illinois Christmas Tradition
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, two in fact, right here in McLean County. The 14-foot Sa...

Blog Post

Santa at the Courthouse Square Downtown Bloomington, 1948
On December 4, 1948, Santa Claus arrived in Bloomington via the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroa...

Blog Post

Speakers Bureau

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McLean County Holiday Stories

Speakers Bureau