By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON – A new exhibit at the McLean County Museum of History aims to bring the stories of this area’s settlers to life.
‘Making a Home’ is the museum’s first new permanent exhibit at the museum in 24 years. Executive Director Greg Koos said the exhibit details the dreams and the challenges that people from all over the globe encountered when they sought a better live in McLean County.
“It’s not talking about groups of people, it’s talking about individuals who come from places,” Koos said. “That really allows us to tell a far more compelling story.”
The exhibit tells the stories of those who settled in McLean County uses interactive digital media and artifacts that date back to the arrival of native Americans to the immigration of Asian Indians and the Latino populations in the late 20th century and today.
Curator Susan Hartzold said the people who settled here helped shape McLean County through their shared and divergent experiences.
“People have come to McLean County and made it their home for a long time,” Hartzold said. “It didn’t stop. It’s still happening today.”
Museum officials say the exhibit will serve as a foundation for its interactive student programs and public education. ‘Making a Home’ is the first in a series of five galleries that will make up the larger permanent exhibit ‘Challenges, Choices and Change: The People of McLean County.’ The other galleries will cover agriculture, work, politics and Abraham Lincoln.
Director of Development Beth Whisman said the exhibit is being funds through the museum’s $3 million Extending Excellence capital campaign.
There will be a grand opening at 10:30 a.m. Monday featuring a presentation from exhibit consultant Gina Hunter, associate professor of anthropology and sociology at Illinois State University.
Eric Stock can be reached at eric.stock@cumulus.com.
