McLean County Museum Of History

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.

U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Richard Durbin and former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood will kick off a “Democracy Dialogues” series on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, at 7 p.m. in Illinois State University’s Braden Auditorium at the Bone Student Center. This free, all-ages-welcome event is hosted by the McLean County Museum of History in collaboration with Illinois State University, WGLT, the Dirksen Congressional Center, and other community partners.

Last May, the grassroots advocacy group commissioned an artist to paint 15 circus-themed murals connecting the Bloomington Public Library and the McLean County Museum of History. The member organization will do the same thing this summer to celebrate the centennial of Route 66.

During the Great Depression the federal government tried to stimulate the economy by funding a variety of buildings and programs. Inside the 1936 WPA post office in Normal is a 1938 oil on canvas mural, a salute to the community, to human achievement, and to the importance of beauty in public spaces.

If you want a sudsy taste of history, here's your chance: The McLean County Museum of History is partnering with Bloomington microbrewer Casper to honor the community's longest continuously operating (and now defunct) brewery.