March 13th, 2024

0 mins read by Micaela Harris

February 13th, 2024

Museum Square Becomes First Site for International Artist EMEMEM's U.S. Debut

If you're walking along the east side of the Museum Square, you might see a glimmer of something new filling in the cracks of the pavement... Earlier this month, the Museum Square became the first city in the United States to feature an original installation from Ememem, the globetrotting st...
2 mins read by Micaela Harris

February 13th, 2024

Local Sci-Fi Novels Added to Library Stacks

The Museum's Library & Archives actively collects published works by local authors and is always eager to add to our repertoire. We recently added three books by Wilson Tucker (1914-2006) to the Library st...
2 mins read by

January 17th, 2024

0 mins read by Micaela Harris

January 13th, 2024

Audiobook of McLean County History Now Available on Audible & KIndle

Freedom, Land & Community: A History of McLean County Illinois, 1730-1900, a groundbreaking historical tome that documents and details the lives of the diverse people of Central Illinois through the lens of the author, Greg Koos, is now available on Audible and Kindle. Masterf...
1 mins read by Micaela Harris

January 4th, 2024

0 mins read by Norris Porter

December 28th, 2023

0 mins read by Micaela Harris

December 24th, 2023

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 Santa sculptures symbolized the holiday season in Central Illinois for nearly fifty years. But all the holiday hoopla has them in need of some TLC before next Christmas.So, the McLean County Museum...
4 mins read by Micaela Harris

November 14th, 2023

Two Pieces of World War II Accessioned into the Museum's Library and Archives

In the last week, the Museum has accessioned two unique pieces of World War II history: a P.O.W. diary and a collection of 16 propaganda posters. On Monday, November 13, 2023, Dianna Dee Damkoehler donated sixteen World War II propaganda posters to the Museum. The Office of War Info...
3 mins read by Micaela Harris

October 30th, 2023

Museum to Reopen Reenvisioned Merwin Gallery

Museum to Reopen Reenvisioned Merwin Gallery, Increase Collections’ AccessibilityContactMicaela Harris, Director of Communications at 309-825-5296 or mharris@mchistory.org For...
3 mins read by Micaela Harris

September 19th, 2023

Celebrating Latinx Heritage Month

In 1968, the Lyndon B. Johnson administration federally established Hispanic Heritage Week. On August 17, 1988, the Ronald Reagan administration expanded and enacted into law Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins on September 15 and ends on October 15.The dates are significant as Se...
2 mins read by Micaela Harris

August 25th, 2023

0 mins read by Susan Hartzold

August 8th, 2023

McHistory: Paul Rhymer, the man who put Bloomington 'on the air'

Listen to the audio on WGLT's website hereMcHistory goes back in time to explore big moments and small stories from McLean County history. McHistory episodes can b...
2 mins read by Bill Kemp

July 31st, 2023

McHistory: Richard Blue was the first Black person to run for Bloomington council

Listen to the audio on WGLT's website hereMcHistory goes back in time to explore big moments and small stories from McLean County history. McHi...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp

July 26th, 2023

Museum to Dedicate Historic Marker on Bloomington’s West Side Memorializing the Former Booker T. Washington Home for Colored Children

Contact:Micaela Harris, Museum Director of Communications, at 309-827-0228 ext. 114Norris Porter, Museum Director of Development, at ...
8 mins read by Micaela Harris

July 13th, 2023

Seeds of History

Science and the humanities are often thought of as separate entities and subjects. Still, we at the Museum believe all forms of knowledge are important in understanding and interpreting our world. Seeds of History is an ongoing series of interdisciplinary initiatives working to edu...
3 mins read by Micaela Harris

July 12th, 2023

Historic Markers: Tools in Creating Community History

Monuments and historic markers reflect our values as a community and are tangible and visual markers of the stories we value. They also remind us that history is not exclusively confined to the walls of a museum but exists all around us. History happens everywhere, all the time. Public his...
14 mins read by Micaela Harris

June 13th, 2023

0 mins read by Micaela Harris

June 1st, 2023

0 mins read by Susan Hartzold

March 30th, 2023

Guy Fraker -- 2023 History Maker

Central Illinois roots and Abraham Lincoln tugged at Guy Fraker, bringing this Missouri-born, suburban New York City youth to a long-time Bloomington career.Guy’s family had deep roots in central Illinois and the University of Illinois. When Guy was a child, the family visited his grandmot...
5 mins read by Norris Porter

March 30th, 2023

Charles & Willie Halbert -- 2023 History Makers

The Lord's mercies are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.Lamentations 3:23Standing for justice and deep in their faith, Charles and Willie Halbert are community stalwarts to ensure fairness and equality for all. Plus, their generosity has fed multitudes, com...
4 mins read by Norris Porter

March 30th, 2023

Dotti Bushnell -- 2023 History Maker

The rich aroma of spices has followed Dotti Bushnell throughout her life, from her childhood in India to her 47-plus year proprietorship of The Garlic Press in Uptown Normal.Dotti’s parents were Presbyterian missionaries in India, where she grew up surrounded by Indian culture and attended...
4 mins read by Norris Porter

March 30th, 2023

Hank & Mary Campbell -- 2023 History Makers

Habitat houses, formerly incarcerated women welcomed back, student discards re-used, food distributed, children sheltered, and a Kenyan clinic sustained – contributions Hank and Mary Campbell have made and continue to support. These two retired Illinois State University (ISU) professors have neve...
4 mins read by Norris Porter

March 1st, 2023

0 mins read by Susan Hartzold

January 2nd, 2023

0 mins read by

December 14th, 2022

0 mins read by Susan Hartzold

November 29th, 2022

Press Release: Awarded Re-Accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums

McLean County Museum of History in Top 3.3% of the CountryAwarded Re-Accreditation from the American Alliance of MuseumsBLOOMINGTON, IL (11/29/2022) -– The McLean County Museum of History has, once again, received the highest national recognitio...
3 mins read by Jeffery Woodard

November 15th, 2022

McHistory: ‘King of Swedes’ kept Bloomington streets clean

Listen to the audio on WGLT's website hereMcHistory goes back in time to explore big moments and small stories from McLean County history. McHistory episodes can...
9 mins read by Bill Kemp

October 24th, 2022

Press Release: Executive Director Julie Emig to be out on medical leave through December

Executive Director Julie Emig to be out on medical leave through DecemberBloomington- Executive Director Julie Emig is out on medical leave from the McLean County Museum of History until December. Her prognosis is exceptionally good with a full recovery expected. While Jul...
1 mins read by Jeffery Woodard

October 20th, 2022

McHistory: Helen Clark McCurdy was a political pioneer in Bloomington

Listen to the audio on WGLT's website hereMcHistory goes back in time to explore big moments and small stories from McLean County history. McHistory episod...
6 mins read by Bill Kemp