McLean County Museum of History

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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.

Raising money for the world's most impoverished children, October 1961Halloween once doubled as a major fundraising even...
10/19/2026

Raising money for the world's most impoverished children, October 1961

Halloween once doubled as a major fundraising event for UNICEF, the United Nations’ agency that provides humanitarian and developmental aid to children. These boys are representing St. John’s Lutheran Church of Bloomington. Left to right are David Campbell, Jerry Gentes, Warren Dudenbostel, and Robert Mehlberg.

Don DeVore, Legion ball, early 1950s During the summer of 1950 and 1951, Don DeVore played Varsity baseball for American...
10/17/2026

Don DeVore, Legion ball, early 1950s

During the summer of 1950 and 1951, Don DeVore played Varsity baseball for American Legion Louis E. Davis Post 56 of Bloomington. Varsity served as the local Legion’s all-star team, a precursor to today’s travel teams. DeVore passed away in January of this year at the age of 93. This photo was one of many recently donated to the Museum by Kevin Lowery.

State Farm additions, June 1986 Mellon-Stuart Co. of Pittsburgh. PA served as the general contractor for the $40.6 milli...
10/16/2026

State Farm additions, June 1986

Mellon-Stuart Co. of Pittsburgh. PA served as the general contractor for the $40.6 million expansion of State Farm Insurance Co.’s corporate headquarters on Veterans Parkway. Two four-story “wings” were added to the west side of the complex in 1986. These photos were taken by local resident Kevin Lowery, who then donated them to us last month!

Margaret and Mark Hayes Following up on yesterday’s post, here are husband and wife Mark and Margaret Hayes well after t...
10/15/2026

Margaret and Mark Hayes

Following up on yesterday’s post, here are husband and wife Mark and Margaret Hayes well after their 1916 wedding day. Margaret Hayes is in the front yard of the family home at 1309 S. Main St. in Bloomington. And that’s Mark Hayes at the Hayes Drug Store, 1102 S. Main St., also in Bloomington. The first photo is undated, but the second one dates to June 29, 1941.

Hayes-Kalahar wedding, June 7, 1916 Here’s another photograph recently donated by local resident Margaret Bratcher. This...
10/14/2026

Hayes-Kalahar wedding, June 7, 1916

Here’s another photograph recently donated by local resident Margaret Bratcher. This one features Mark Bruno Hayes and Margaret Veronica Kalahar on their wedding day, June 7, 1916. They were married at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Bloomington. Mark and Margaret Hayes were Margaret's grandparents. Mark Hayes was a pharmacist who later served as Bloomington mayor in the 1930s and 1940s.

10/12/2026

Submit your session proposals by November 29, 2026, for the 2027 History and Social Sciences Teacher Symposium at Illinois State University! We love partnering with ROE #17 and ISU to bring this annual conference to life. Each year, hundreds of practicing history and social science teachers from across Illinois gather, along with upper-class ISU history education majors for illuminating sessions.

In 2027, the symposium will take place on Friday, January 29.

We’re seeking proposals from Illinois museums, historic sites, and other cultural institutions to present on local history topics, share classroom resources, and help shape the future of history education. Submit your proposal here: https://forms.illinoisstate.edu/.../symposium_proposal_2027

Questions? Visit mchistory.org/learn/contact to connect with our Education Department and learn more!

U.S. Army training, April 1943 During the Second World War, Bloomington was home to the Midwest Motive Trades Institute,...
10/12/2026

U.S. Army training, April 1943

During the Second World War, Bloomington was home to the Midwest Motive Trades Institute, which trained soldiers in vehicle maintenance and repair, among other skills. Here are Pfc. Marvin Saddleblanket, Pfc. Wilbur Wolf, Pfc. Edward B. Harp, and Pfc. Benjamin I. Johnson. Saddleblanket, Wolf, and Johnson were from Nebraska; while Harp came from Yelm, Washington. John H. Thedens is the instructor.

Latter-day Saints groundbreaking, Normal, April 1961 Groundbreaking for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ...
10/11/2026

Latter-day Saints groundbreaking, Normal, April 1961

Groundbreaking for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints church on W. Hovey Ave. in Normal took place on April 22, 1961. Left to right are: Richard Maycock of Chicago, president of the Northern States Mission; LeGrande C. Poor, Bloomington branch president; Leland Behunin, construction superintendent; and Arthur Simmons.

Stop by Bobzbay Books and meet the author of Mourning in McLean! The Museum’s Senior Director of Education, Candace Summ...
10/10/2026

Stop by Bobzbay Books and meet the author of Mourning in McLean! The Museum’s Senior Director of Education, Candace Summers, wrote this study in seven chapters that explores mourning culture and funerary practices of the 19th and early 20th centuries in McLean County. Copies are also available for purchase. She will be there until 3pm!

Dr. Townsend preaches plan, August 1950 Tireless activist Dr. Francis Towsend was in Bloomington for several days in Aug...
10/10/2026

Dr. Townsend preaches plan, August 1950

Tireless activist Dr. Francis Towsend was in Bloomington for several days in August 1950. The California physician was leading a statewide gathering of “Towsendites” supporting federal government benefits for at-risk groups, such as the poor, elderly, and disabled. The original Towsend Plan of the early 1930s, which proposed a national old-age pension, is credited with boosting support for Social Security. These photos were part of a much-larger donation made several months ago by local resident Brian K. Simpson.

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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