Live performances
Yes
McLean County Museum of History in Bloomington
Categories
Location on the map
Bloomington, McLean County, Illinois, US
Highlights
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible lift
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Yes
Wheelchair rental
Yes
Amenities
Good for kids
Yes
Toilets
Yes
Wi-Fi
Yes
Restaurant
No
Crowd
Family friendly
Yes
Phone: +1 309-827-0428
Site: http://www.mchistory.org/
Site: http://www.mchistory.org/
Opening hours
- Monday:9AM–5PM
- Tuesday:9AM–8PM
- Wednesday:9AM–5PM
- Thursday:9AM–5PM
- Friday:9AM–5PM
- Saturday:9AM–5PM
- Sunday:Closed
Comments (121)
I really enjoyed visiting the museum, the architecture was beautiful, all that marble. Walking in the footsteps of the people that built the city... same places that President Lincoln walked through when passing through from Springfield to visit his friend and mentor Davis Davis.
Very helpful staff, a true gem for genealogy research. Even more amazing is walking the hallways the Abe Lincoln walked
Lunch & Learn is always interesting & free!The museum is a must-stop if youre doing Route 66. The board at the entrance of the museum offers free (or cheap) things to do in town. I like visiting the museum! Ask to buy a soda from their old fashioned soda fountain! It still works after all these decades!
This Museum is very neat, I am glad we stopped at it! It is in the old court house. The building is beautiful and the lay out is done well. It gives the history of the town. The ladies are amazingly nice and great. It is a small Museum, there isnt alot. It took us maybe an hour to go through it. Would definitely recommend for any family.
Excellent tour. John was our tour guide and he was extremely knowledgeable and friendly.
I hit on free day. Every Tuesday is free. Lots of interesting exhibits.
What an incredible waste of tax dollars about as useless as hiring consultants to do the work city employees are already paid as if they were qualified to do their jobs
Our museum staff is superb at bringing in opportunities for community enrichment and education. They had a Native American drumming group in, as well as displays. Thank you!!
This is a great place to just see the history of how our county came to be.My only complaints would be that the elevator was too small and a good chunk of the exhibits were closed the day we went. But what we did see was wonderful!
Ive come to know the museum like the back of my hand, blindfolded, over the last several years. Everyone there has been so beneficial to my local research. This museum deserves the same recognition and support as the Chicago History Museum.
Great museum. Really like the Pantagraph negatives being posted to a web site where anyone can access them :)
This museum is great for kids of all ages! I have two young children and was hesitant, thinking it was full of artifacts and things to read, but a friend recommended the discovery room and it was so cool! Kids can interact with everything in this room and it is filled with objects that recreate what life was like in McLean County a long time ago. Both kids had an absolute blast! We checked out the other exhibits, as well, and I feel like I learned some interesting information. We will definitely be coming back to visit again.
Really enjoyed ourselves here. There are two floors of things to look at . So maybe with my advancing age I enjoy looking at things like county museums, but my son and daughter in law who are in there twenties enjoyed it too. Five bucks to get in? What a steal. If you got an hour or two to kill in Bloomington and youre down town or anywhere actually in town since its easy to get to, stop by and check it out. Not like some of the other county museums Ive been in and definitely five times better than my counties museum.
Nice local history museum. Gives a nice representation of how the area developed over the last few hundred years and who the settlers were. Details local citizens who had a hand in shaping McLean County. There are varied exhibits to have something for everyone and enough popular culture items to keep younger minds interested. The court house and the courtroom are very impressive. The Lincoln Era connections are very interesting. Well worth your time to visit!
To begin with, the architecture of the building and the historical downtown is beautiful. Our favorite spot inside is the childrens room with antique toys and some down on the farm activities and dress up clothes. The dome is gorgeous as well as the marble everything! You can feel the history, highly recommend!
Historically historic. Be the light around there. Needs some good spirit around the area right around. Safe area and allot of art, great art around the area. Check the store fronts of of Market St especially. You can sit next to Abe Lincoln out front, which I think is pretty cool. Allot of history right around the Museum and respect for our military and veterans. The homeless around there are very kind and wouldnt mind telling you cool stuff about the area. They arent your average people. Very friendly area. Be the light. They need it. Farmers Market days are awesome right around the Museum. Very well kept building.
Super educational and had something for everyone!
Every Tuesday is Free Admission! Its a beautiful building, with an incredible Library & Archive with amazing staff eager to help you!One afternoon spent looking at our small town history, and Im obsessed. Debating joining the McLean County Historical Society!
Neat glimpse into both local history and Lincoln- his time here and on the circuit for central Illinois.Beautiful architecture, interior stonework and rotunda.
The McLean County Museum is magnificent. Before going I really did not expect much, and I was wrong! The vinyettes were so well arranged and informative. I highly recommend everyone to go to this museum, as you will not be disappointed!
Excellent exhibits of local history that well represents the culture of not only McLean County but also central Illinios too. The courtroom is very well restored and to experience it as what it was like when Abraham Lincoln practiced law there is pretty cool. The museum has something of interest for all ages. Make sure you get a picture with Abe Lincoln (sculpture) as he is sitting on a bench in front on the museum. Note: use the entrance on the South side of the building.
I enjoyed the friendly and well knowledgeable staff members. The building itself is well designed. My favorite exhibit is the Pedal Power toy cars. A must see if you are ever in the Bloomington - Normal area ...
The staff could not have been any more friendlier than what they were. This museum has both route 66 stuff as well as Lincoln stuff. Highly recommended and definitely a museum bigger than its local name.
Very friendly staff, helpful and seem to love their jobs. There was a situation, but they solved it quickly. I will be coming back with my family in November when they open the new part of the museum
While the Museum regularly has informative and engaging exhibits, my favorite part of the whole building is the library. I have spent hours there looking through books or using the Microfilm Viewers to look at films Id ordered from FamilySearch. I joined the museum earlier this year and plan to be a continuous member.
I grabbed a Uber and went to just have something to do. Im a truck driver stuck here on a hot day. There is a lot of history in that museum, much of which is national history. I enjoy seeing local stuff, but this turned out to be much more. I was surprised locals I talked to hadnt gone through it. Just $5 for adults, and so much to learn about.
Very friendlyLots of cool thingsFun play areas for kids who likes to touch thingsMy only problem isThey are not the cleanestThere was no tour guideNot enough sights to see at this museum it is kind if boring if you have kids.
The view at night is awesome.
Nice place to visit. Has alot of history inside and the building itself. Old courthouse from back in the day. Free admission on Tuesdays and Saturdays during farmers market only.
Its located in heart of the Bloomington downtown and an excellent place for visit to know about history of McLean county.
Really nice museum, wish I had more time to spend there, I look forward to coming back again. Man at desk was really nice and helpful.
A beautiful building with a variety of interesting and informative exhibits. The staff was really friendly. A nice place to spend a few hours.
They have a very nice museum. It has a lot of basic local displays, several video presentations and has a good amount of history on Abraham Lincoln.
Ive watched this museum be restored to its present glory. This a place youll want to visit more then once. Awesome exhibits.
This place is a wonderful museum. The exhibits are very interesting and modern. Locals as well as visitors come to the Museum for an excellent time!
Very educational and easy to maneuver Museum handicap accessible Route 66 Museum also lots to learn about Lincoln and the forefathers of this community very family-friendly and a place where Lincoln practiced his law
Staff was very friendly and the building itself is beautiful and the architecture is so amazing also the museum is very fun and informative
Very nice museum! Enjoyed my visit. The staff were very friendly and helpful.
This is a must-go-see place in Bloomington. Lots of history - a great staff and cool things to take home with you. Their Route 66 display is really neat. Check it out.
I love museums. Since I lived in McLean County its nice to see the history and the new items they have gotten for their displays
The steampunk festival was so fun. The museum is a great place to learn about Mclean county history.
The staff are very helpful. The museum houses more resources than I imagined. The building is also architecturally historic.
So proud for B/N to have such a great museum presenting everything and more about McLean County history.
My granddaughter enjoyed the prairie room and the two-story vault in the library the most. Well worth the price of admission!
Magnificent!! Just the architecture alone is breathtaking. The displays are easy to peruse. ...not cluttered
Their history camp is THE BEST camp in BloNo. My kids love it and look forward to it every year.
This was a great place to do our presentations! We had a lot of fun and the library looks amazing!
So very interesting. I learned more about Lincolns legal activity in this country than I had anywhere else, even Springfield, IL.
Just visited...beautiful...interesting artifacts as well as library. Looking up information on my moms house. Tuesdays are also free!!!
Definantly was neat for a smaller museum ;) peddle cars were super cool
Very informative, self guided tour. Didnt realize how much time Lincoln spent in Bloomington.
Beautiful old courthouse now houses a top rate museum and archives/library with helpful staff.
My 7 year old son chose to go back here instead of playing Pokemon.... That says a lot! This place is fascinating
Great local museum. Always good displays and presentations.
A fun and informative stop on a road trip. Definitely worth the detour off the interstate to learn about the local history.
Great little museum with interactive elements. Perfect for families.
I love the Museum! The annual Cemetery Walk is something I never miss.
Nice little museum. Love the free day on Tuesday.
It will be a good place to visit and learn about some things if you have the time
Museum tour. Well worth the time. Recommend without reservation.
I didnt go in I just walked by but I have been in there before and its amazing check it out
Inside of the old county courthouse, which has some fine architectural details. Recommend visiting.
I was pleasantly surprised by this museum, very friendly staff.
Extremely friendly staff, great exhibits, and a reasonable price.
A must to learn about the area and its only $5 they do have elevator for all 3 floors
Some things are cool but also many things are boring the events are some times a let down
Surprisingly good for a small town. Would definitely recommend going.
Great local history with modern exhibits!
Beautiful selections, great volunteers, and an amazing staff!!
Awesome place! Very hands on and the staff is extremely friendly and helpful!
Many interesting lectures offered at lunch time.
Its a really good place to visit.
Great place I had a great time
Wonderful place to visit and gorgeous building!
Good exhibits. Well organized.
Awesome stop for route 66 visitors and history buffs.
Kids had a blast, great for all ages
Very interesting, helpful staff and shopping available!
Had a great event here in the old courtroom!
Always a nice visit to learn about history.
Love this place love this area its a relaxing a atmosphere
Alot of McLean County history. Treasure trove of information.
Great exhibit and history
Its good be there thanks you
Hidden treasure. Amazing staff!
Excellent accredited museum.
Its an amazing experience there
Lots of great stuff to see
Attend the Veterans Day program 😁
Trans friendly!
It is FUN
Very cool place.
Beautiful building.
Excellent Christmas celebration
Pokemon go Gym here
Great place
It was quite interesting
A good part of county history
Nice visit.
Awesome
Very nice place
Nice
Great staff
Really good
I have fun
Excellent in History!
Eye opener
Interesting
A beautiful place, very peaceful and very friendly people.
Beautiful. Worth the visit. Free
Oki
Total reviews rating 4.6
121 Reviews for McLean County Museum of History 2023:
Review №1
2022-01-18Spending the weekend visiting ISU and visited here for the first time. Nice museum in a beautiful Old Courthouse. A variety of exhibits that accurately depict the diverse lives and stories of those who settled Bloomington Normal and continue to reside here today. Nice selection of supporting artifacts, along with well produced interactive features. Nice way to spend a few hours on a gloomy winter day!
Review №2
2022-03-23One of the best county museums I have ever been to. Plenty of interactive elements and the exhibits are great at connecting local history to national and international trends.
Review №3
2022-04-30A lot of history packed in a smallish old courthouse. Beautiful architecture and thoughtfully and well laid out exhibits. Plus kids are FREE
Review №4
2022-01-22Neat museum in a beautiful old court house. lots of local history including exhibits focused on Lincoln
Review №5
2022-06-15I went to the Museum today to utilize the library in an effort to research the older home that I live in. The ladies at the information desk were welcoming & very helpful. The gentlemen in the research area & library were also extremely helpful & when I ran into a dead end with my research, took down my e-mail address and told me that they would inquire for me with a historian that might have some information. I appreciate the work and preservation efforts on not only the records at the museum but the actual building, the old Courthouse itself. Its a jewel of a building and well worth preserving. Thank You!
Review №6
2022-04-27The Volunteer working today was friendly. You could tell she enjoyed being there.
Review №7
2021-09-15Bloomington IL historic architecture. The McLean County Museum of History. Formerly the McLean County Courthouse. It basically forms the town square. A beautiful domed building. Downtown Bloomington. The McLean County Museum of History was completed in 1903. Built after a major fire destroyed most of the downtown buildings in 1900. Exceptional architecture by Peoria firm Reeves and Baile . Wonderful exhibits and history within this edifice.
Review №8
2022-06-21This isn’t your typical local museum where a few relics are thrown on a shelf or hung on a wall, maybe, sometimes, with a small tag identifying the item but rarely anything to make them relatable.This museum makes a point of not only identifying items and events that defined McLean county’s history, but it presents them with captivating documentaries that describe what was being done (and might have been thought) at the time, and also asks questions of the visitors that requires them to place themselves in those historical scenarios. You’re likely to spend as much time reading the accounts as you are examining the items, but if you’re willing to take the time to do so, this museum can absolutely bring those times to life!Museums aren’t usually at the top of my list of favorite ways to spend my day, but I found this one both interesting and captivating. I was here for about an hour and didn’t come close to seeing it all. I look forward to returning and exploring even more of these wonderful, high quality exhibits.
Review №9
2022-05-29Nice little history museum if you’re inclined in a sort of Howard Zinn direction. Designed well and I learned a lot. Records library is neat, and the volunteers were very helpful in finding historical information about the house I live in
Review №10
2018-08-26I was able to make it to the McLean Museum in time to see the exhibits they had it was a very nice and well kept the museum. Apparently this is actually a courthouse that Abraham Lincoln practiced law in, this time when I went in the exhibit was the pedal cars and stories about the early pioneers and early settlers of the nation. Definitely a nice time, you should try to go, if this is something that interests you.