McLean County Museum Of History

McLean County and Central Illinois are gearing up for America 250 with a bunch of events, everything from a community drone show on July 2 to readings of the Declaration of Independence at Connie Link Amphitheater in Normal and in Downtown Bloomington. It's not the first national anniversary involving a big celebration. Let’s go back 50 years to hear what they did for the nation’s Bicentennial.

From immigrating to the U.S., counseling countless patients and founding multiple community support programs, Feli Sebastian has contributed to some of the most vulnerable in the Twin Cities. She told WGLT her work has brought joy to her life.

Retired ISU softball coach Melinda Fischer is one of this year's McLean County History Makers. She talked to WGLT about the "extraordinary people that have really made my journey so exciting and so valuable," and how she's spending her time since retiring.

Art and Camille Taylor married in 1994 and have worked to advocate for each other's passions ever since. However, they did plenty of standing up for others before and after they reunited.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz during the U.S. war with Iran has sent energy prices way up. Something similar happened back in 1973 during the OPEC oil embargo. Find out more in this episode of McHistory.

In a one-time show on June 6, the McLean County Museum of History will serve as the backdrop of a special projection show. Visit BN coordinated the project for ISU fine arts faculty to illustrate and animate images for the show.

The McLean County Museum of History announced the 2026 class of History Makers at a media event Wednesday morning. It includes former ISU softball coach Melinda Fischer, former County Board Chair John McIntyre, counselor Feli Sebastian and community activists Camille and Art Taylor.

On October 28, 1934, the airport that would become Central Illinois Regional Airport was dedicated. A crowd estimated at 60,000 came to see the airshow and speech from the governor.

The program, focusing on the phrase “Life and Liberty,” was at the McLean County Museum of History and is part of the Democracy Dialogues series of public discussions this year, marking the museum’s celebration of America 250.

For the first 100 years of Bloomington history, water was scarce. In 1929, the formation of Lake Bloomington began after periods of drought, contamination and scarcity of safe drinking water.