Cruisin' with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center

07/04/2024

Have a safe and happy 4th of July! Our Lincoln decorator stopped by to make sure Abe is ready for the festivities today 🎆🎇

06/19/2024

Juneteenth 1995

Caribel Washington (left) and Mildred Pratt were part of the third annual Bloomington-Normal Juneteenth Celebration, held at the Illinois Wesleyan campus, Saturday, June 17, 1995. Both women served as irreplaceable leaders (official and unofficial) of the Bloomington-Normal Black History Project. Caribel Washington passed away on Dec. 26, 2011, at the age of 97. Mildred Pratt followed on Aug. 6, 2012. She was 83 at the time of her death.

The Museum is open and admission is free today in celebration of Juneteenth!

06/18/2024

CHEERS!
Our McLean County Museum of History and Visitors Center continues to enjoy an increase in visitors. 20% increase from the Spring of last year.

Admissions numbers from April 1, 2024 to May 31 reported at
3,575 visitors. International visits included Canada, England, Italy, Croatia, Venezuela, Hungary, Taiwan, New Zealand, France, India, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Australia, Mexico, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Russia, Romania and Poland.

Pictured here: Travelers from Germany, using apps and the Route 66 Passport to find their way along the Route.
https://www.route66navigation.com/passport/

Thank you to everyone who works so hard to promote our national treasure, The Mother Road-Route 66, Route 66 Association of Illinois, Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway, Enjoy Illinois, ROUTE Magazine, Route 66 Navigation, Bloomington-Normal Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, Ryburn Place

06/13/2024

Fun Route 66 Virtual Reality Experience Tour Comes to Bloomington Sunday, June 30 at 2:00 p.m..
To register for this FREE activity please email: [email protected] or call 309-706-9866. Seating is limited.

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) — Virtual reality, Route 66 and Black history are coming together.It’s a partnership between the Bloomington-Normal Black History Project and Route History of S…

06/12/2024

More on the Route 66 Murals Project in McLean County

Route 66 murals popping up in McLean County

06/11/2024

A great place to stop and get your vintage arcade game fix in the village of McLean, right on Route 66! If you have never stopped, you should.

Arcadia owner John Yates is converting the building used as a workshop for 30 years into a new pay-once, play-all-day arcade.

06/07/2024

Stop by and see our display!

06/06/2024

UPDATE: All Roads are now open

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Original Post

Following up on my previous post, a Blowing Dust Advisory has been issued for Logan and McLean Counties until 7 pm.

Blowing dust has prompted the closure of I-55 and Route 66 south of Funks Grove. Given our recent rains, this appears to be a localized issue but drivers should be prepared for sudden reductions in visibility. Winds should decrease after sunset.

05/24/2024

Fun fact! So much to see and do here in McLean County!

🌟 Happy National Travel and Tourism Week! 🌟 🍺 Join us in celebrating the beauty and wonder of our beloved area! Did you know that McLean County has a fascinating history waiting to be explored? 🏛️ Sponsored by the McLean County Museum of History, here's a cool fun fact. Illinois State University McLean County Fair

05/22/2024

https://www.visitbn.org/visit/listings/eat-drink/

Happy Memorial Day Week!

Bloomington-Normal Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Find places to eat and drink in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. BN offers you a wide variety of restaurants, cafes, bars and nightlife, bakeries and delis offering subs and snacks. With American and international cuisines, fast food and family friendly dining options, you’ll always find something de...

05/21/2024

Travel Season is Upon Us!

Last week this happy Route 66 traveler stopped in to visit as he was finishing up the final leg of his journey from Santa Monica to Chicago, where he would then turn in his rent a car and fly out, headed back home to Zurich, Switzerland!

Well done my friend! Thanks for sharing your story.




-Bloomington-Normal Area Convention & Visitors Bureau


The Visitors Center is free and is open year around. Visit www.cruisinwithlincolnon66.org for more details.

05/20/2024

Check out the new mural on Route 66 at the corner of Main and Market St. Bloomington, IL.

The paint is drying as we speak! Nice work from the guys at Illinois Tattoo Co. Love the use of gold paint in this one!

05/06/2024

In case you missed Sunday's Pieces from our Past, check out the story of The Dixie Truckers Home, known for it's famous broasted chicken and being in operation almost as long as Rt. 66 has existed! Read on!

Visionary entrepreneurs with an eye toward hospitality built a McLean truck stop from just a dream into a Route 66 icon.

05/04/2024

This is the way....May the 4th be with you!

05/04/2024

We had the first official team find all ten mice in our mural today! Congratulations to Penelope Feathers and Kelci McConville!

04/26/2024

We have two huge announcements today. First, we have Funks Grove Maple Sirup. Second, our amazing artist Troy Freeman of Freesky Studios, finished our mural in the entryway. It looks even more amazing in person. Come visit the Museum this rainy weekend. Be one of the first to take a photo in front of our completed mural. Then stock up on Funks Grove Maple Sirup.

04/26/2024

It's prom season!

The Museum is a public place where all visitors are welcome. If you wish to take prom photos inside the Museum, we ask that you are respectful of other visitors and follow these guidelines:

· The Museum opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m. We ask that prom picture takers arrive no later than 4:15 p.m. and exit the building by 4:45 p.m.
· Please call ahead and let us know how many students and adults are in the group, and approximately what time you plan on arriving. We ask this so that we do not have multiple groups of people wanting to take prom photos arriving at the same time, which may cause us to have to turn other people away.
· No photos or congregating in the Visitors Center
· No photos are to be taken on the stairs
· No prom photos in the galleries
· Please be mindful and courteous to other visitors
· When posting prom photos taken at the Museum on social media, we ask that you tag the Museum.
· We are waiving admission for prom photos, but donations are encouraged and greatly appreciated.

04/19/2024

04/19/2024

Things are happening in the Visitors Center! Check it out!

04/03/2024

The Museum and Visitors Center are closed to the public today, April 3, for a staff development day.

03/31/2024

Hoppy Easter! Thanks Olivia for making sure Abe was ready to celebrate!

03/30/2024

https://atlantaillinoistourism.com/2024/02/28/american-giants-museum-2024-schedule/

The 2024 tourist season at the American Giants Museum begins on Saturdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. during the month of March. The Museum opens for its regular season schedule on Tuesday, April 2. Days/hours of operation will be: Tuesday thru Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. The Museum w...

03/17/2024

Top of the Morning to ya and Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Thanks to our official Lincoln Decorator Olivia for stopping by to make sure Abe had his green on today! Do you?
Happy St. Patty’s Day! ☘️☘️🇮🇪

02/14/2024

https://support.savingplaces.org/s/2334927/jBSj3R73

Route 66 is more than just a road; it's a tapestry of diverse cultures and histories. We want to showcase the people and places that make Route 66 special. Share your story by uploading a photo and short description of a place along Route 66 that the world should know about.

02/14/2024

The Museum and Visitors Center are closed today, Wednesday, February 14, for a staff development day. We will reopen tomorrow 9am-5pm.