Plan Your Visit

Accessibility

The Museum has a limited number of wheelchairs and walkers for visitors to borrow. They are available at a first-come, first-served basis. Inquire at the reception desk. The main entrance is ground level and accessible.

Exhibits are typically around 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius). There are places to sit down in most of the exhibit galleries and a bench in the first and third floor rotunda.

The Museum is typically not crowded, however we do get bus tours and field trips multiple times a month. If you or someone in your group is uncomfortable with large or loud crowds of people, please call ahead to see if there will be any large groups scheduled to be on site during your visit.

The Museum is equipped with five Sensory Bags (provided by Autism McLean) that are available for check out at the reception desk. Each bag includes: sound dampening headphones, sunglasses, fidget toys, and visual communication cards. These bags are available to all visitors.

To prepare for your visit, click here to view the Museum's social narrative.

For more information on accessibility accommodations, including sensory friendly evening access, please call us at 309-827-0428.

Location

The McLean County Museum of History's address is 200 North Main Street, Bloomington, Illinois, however our entrance is on Washington Street, on the south side of the building.

Parking

Weekday parking: Street parking around the Museum is free but limited to 90 minutes, and this is strictly enforced by the city. You may move your car to a different block to reset the 90 minute limit. The Lincoln Parking Deck located on Front Street and Main is one block south of the Museum near the intersection of Main and Front. Parking is $1 per hour during the day M-F. There is free 2-hour parking three blocks southeast of the Museum in a lot at the corners of Washington and East Streets. Parking is also available in a garage three blocks north of the Museum on the corner of Center and Market. Parking on the first floor of that garage is free for the first four hours.

Evening and weekend parking: All public parking in Downtown Bloomington is free and unlimited after 6 pm on weekdays, and all day Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

Large Groups

Large groups arriving by bus should unload and load in the bus loading zone located outside the Museum entrance on Washington Street. Buses can park in the YMCA overflow lot south of Downtown for the duration of the group’s visit.

For a printable PDF map with instructions, please click here.

Public Transit

Many Bloomington-Normal city buses stop at the Downtown station one block south of the Museum square. For more information and a system map, please visit the Connect Transit website.

Amenities

Free public wifi throughout the Museum.
Diaper changing facilities in both the men's and women's restrooms.
The Museum staff is trained in first aid and there is an AED on site.
There is no cafeteria in the Museum but pop, snacks, and candy are available for sale in our visitors center (ground floor) and there are water fountains throughout the building.
There is a coat rack on the second floor, outside the courtroom. It is unsecured and accessible to the public at all times. We are not responsible for lost or stolen items.

Photography

Personal photography for private, non-commercial use is permitted in all locations unless otherwise posted. To take pictures inside the museum, regular admission must be paid on days the Museum charges admission.
Professional photographers MUST pay a fee.

Please call us at 309-827-0428 for more information.

Nursing Mothers

Mothers are welcome to nurse wherever they are comfortable within the building.

If mothers would like a more private space, please reach out to a staff member and we will do our best to accommodate you. We currently do not have a room dedicated to nursing, but hope to in the future.