McLean County Museum of History

McLean County Museum of History We're a nationally accredited museum located along Historic Route 66 dedicated to sharing the diverse stories of the people of Illinois' largest county.
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Stop by to discover something new! We're open 6 days a week and are always available via mchistory.org The McLean County Museum is an award-winning, local history museum and is nationally accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. This is the "Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval" in the world of museums. Less than 3% of museums are accredited nationwide. The Museum is also home to the Cruisin'

with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center. The entrance to both facilities is on the ground floor on the Washington Street side of the Museum Square, near the Abraham Lincoln bench. The Museum is dedicated to telling the rich story of McLean county through programs that serve people of all ages. The Museum has won over a dozen state and nationally competitive awards for its exhibits, educational programs and publications since 1991. The Cruisin' with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center includes information on local tourist attractions, local sites associated with Route 66 and Abraham Lincoln, and other visitor interests including events, restaurants and shopping. A large gift shop is located in the Visitors Center. McLean County Museum of History Social Media Community Guidelines

The McLean County Museum of History (MCMH) strives to create informative and engaging social media pages. We welcome engagement and constructive dialogue from all perspectives. The guidelines outlined below will help foster a courteous and dynamic environment for all community members. We cannot review or moderate all comments, but we reserve the right to delete or hide any content posted that does not adhere to our policy, and block or report users who share such content. The following will not be tolerated:

> Hate speech, harassment, bullying, profanity, threatening language, attacks on or intimidation of any party, including our online community members or MCMH staff
> Homophobic, transphobic, racist, or sexist speech
> Malicious speech regarding topics of religion, age, ethnic origin, immigration status, gender expression, or race
> Suggestion or encouragement of illegal activities
> Demeaning remarks about personal appearance or ability
> Spam, fraudulent links, repetitive posts
> Advertisements or commercial postings

We thank you for engaging in thoughtful, respectful dialogue on our social media channels.

Lexington scene, undated In August, the Museum received a donation of picture postcards from Normal resident Mary Lou Hu...
09/02/2026

Lexington scene, undated

In August, the Museum received a donation of picture postcards from Normal resident Mary Lou Hutson. The brief caption on the back of this wonderful photo tells us the photo was taken at the Patton home in Lexington. We believe that’s Malinda J. Wagoner Hutson (1856-1938) on the left, standing. The others are unidentified.

Willie Brown, State Farm life underwriter, 1974 Last month, Museum staff worked with the family of the late Willie Brown...
09/01/2026

Willie Brown, State Farm life underwriter, 1974

Last month, Museum staff worked with the family of the late Willie Brown (1947-2022) in the donation of several scrapbooks recounting Willie's 38 years at State Farm Insurance. Here he is just three years into his career. He would retire in 2009 as an Executive Vice President. For many, Willie was best known as a tireless community leader. The Museum thanks the Brown family for their generous donation.

Hefner School, Money Creek Township, October 1930 Okay, following up on Tuesday’s photo post, here’s another picture pos...
08/31/2026

Hefner School, Money Creek Township, October 1930

Okay, following up on Tuesday’s photo post, here’s another picture postcard from Twin City resident Mary Lou Hutson's recent donation. The teacher is Josephine Wisner. Hefner School consolidated with Lexington schools in 1947-48.

Add this to your weekend listening queue 🎧Julie and Mike sat down with NPR Illinois 91.9 UIS to discuss this moment in h...
08/29/2026

Add this to your weekend listening queue 🎧
Julie and Mike sat down with NPR Illinois 91.9 UIS to discuss this moment in history — where we’ve been, where we’re at, and most importantly, what we’re doing to build a stronger democracy and community.
One way to get involved is to join us for our final two on September 22 and November 19. Visit mchistory.org/events for more information!

📢 Episode 6 of Illinois 250 on Community Voices is now available!

This special six-part series, created in partnership with NPR Illinois, explores the people, places, and ideas that connect Illinois to the 250th anniversary of the United States.

In the final episode, Julie Emig of the McLean County Museum of History and Mike Matejka of the Illinois Labor History Society examine the enduring ideals of the Declaration of Independence and the work still required to make them a reality. Through conversations about labor, free speech, voting rights, and civic participation, they reflect on how each generation helps shape a more inclusive democracy.

Listen and learn more at https://bit.ly/4ysWn9F

Sharp-dressed attendant, June 1949Not so long ago—this was before flip flops and pajama pants—Americans had a sense of s...
08/28/2026

Sharp-dressed attendant, June 1949

Not so long ago—this was before flip flops and pajama pants—Americans had a sense of style. Service station attendants, such as this unidentified gentleman here, even had it. And yes, if you didn’t know, it’s National Bow Tie Day!

Ride on down to Bloomington Public Library tonight! We're hosting a FREE program on the history of bicycling at 6:30 p.m...
08/27/2026

Ride on down to Bloomington Public Library tonight! We're hosting a FREE program on the history of bicycling at 6:30 p.m.
Join us to view vintage bicycles and learn lots of interesting information from Christopher Sweet.
Can't make it in person? Don't worry. The presentation will be livestreamed to the Library's YouTube channel here: https://youtube.com/?si=oeUV9yF4Hr0NfzBw

3 K's Motel, undated In the 1950s and 1960s, this motor court south of Bloomington was operated by Emma Krug (1886-1963)...
08/27/2026

3 K's Motel, undated

In the 1950s and 1960s, this motor court south of Bloomington was operated by Emma Krug (1886-1963). This is another little gem from Micki Weaver-Spratt’s recent donation of local and Route 66 postcards.

"Spot" and her new litter, July 1949 Hey, it's International Dog Day, so we’re highlighting one of the many candid canin...
08/26/2026

"Spot" and her new litter, July 1949

Hey, it's International Dog Day, so we’re highlighting one of the many candid canine photos from our Archives. “Allen Dale’s Dot” (“Spot” for short) was a Dalmatian who lived with Chenoa barber Linden Currin. She had recently given birth to nine puppies. As a three-month-old, "Spot" lost half of her left hind leg. Nonetheless, Currin said she was one of the “finest bird dogs in this area.”

One of Dolly Parton's first solo performances after leaving the Wagoner Show was at the McLean County Fair in 1974. She ...
08/25/2026

One of Dolly Parton's first solo performances after leaving the Wagoner Show was at the McLean County Fair in 1974. She performed at Farm Bureau Field in Bloomington about a year after releasing her hit "Jolene".

Our staff and volunteers are working to identify additional photos and reminisce from Dolly's 1974 performance in McLean County. Were you there? Do you remember seeing or hearing this icon perform? Let us know in the comments below or by emailing us at [email protected]!

Here's a scan of the 1974 McLean County Fair program booklet which features information about Dolly's performance.

Address

200 N Main Street
Bloomington, IL
61701

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 8pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+13098270428

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