Normal and Bloomington - The Heart of Central Illinois

Normal and Bloomington - Heart of Illinois

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Bloomington, Illinois in 1914

Bloomington, Illinois in 1914 courtesy Library of Congress

In 1937, Normal gained its first theater specifically to show the new "talkie” films. Today the historic theater has been completely restored and continues to show classic films, as well as being utilized for a variety of music performances, group outings and meetings.

Normal continued to grow in the mid twentieth century and by 1950, its population was nearly 10,000. In 1964, the Normal University officially became the Illinois State University, no longer serving as just a teachers’ school, but as a multipurpose institution of higher learning.

Today Normal supports a population of nearly 50,000 residents. While driving Route 66 through Normal, which is primarily a residential section of town, look for several homes that were one time popular gas stations along the Mother Road. The historic Normal Theater can be seen at 209 North Street.

Bloomington, Illinois

Seamlessly, you enter Bloomington, a city founded decades before the town of Normal was born. In its early years, the settlement was formed near a large grove of trees utilized by the Kickapoo Indians before white settlers began to arrive in the early 1820's. Before a settlement was established here, several trappers hid a keg of liquor in the grove. However, when the Indians found it, they drank it and the stand of trees took on the name Keg Grove. However, when the first settlers began to build upon the land, they changed the name to Blooming Grove due to the many flowers in the area.

When the County of McLean was incorporated on December 25, 1830, a man named James Allen donated 60 acres for a new town to hold the county seat. The place that was once referred to as Keg Grove and Blooming Grove became Bloomington. The town was laid out and on July 4, 1831, lots were sold at a festive event. Before long, the rich soil of the county attracted farmers and Bloomington's downtown district was born.

It was during these early years that Abraham Lincoln often rode the circuit to Bloomington, conducting business from the now restored Miller-Davis building at 101 N Main Street. Here, Lincoln met many lawyers and prominent businessmen, including Jesse Fell, who first encouraged Lincoln to run for president.

The meeting resulted in Lincoln writing his autobiography that Fell distributed to the Eastern press, introducing Lincoln to the national political scene. Another man who was instrumental in Lincoln’s win of the 1860 presidential nomination, was Judge David Davis of Bloomington. In 1872, Davis and his wife Sarah built an elegant Victorian Mansion at 1000 E. Monroe Drive, which continues to stand today, furnished with opulent European fixtures and serving as a museum.

At the turn of the century, a disastrous fire claimed a great portion of Bloomington's downtown area; however, agriculture, highways, railroads, and insurance continued to influence the city’s growth. When Route 66 came through in 1926 along the Chicago & Alton Railroad corridor, numerous businesses sprouted up along the route and in the heart of Bloomington's downtown district.

When superhighway I-55 replaced Route 66, it bypassed downtown Bloomington and its historic businesses began a quick decline.

Today, this city of some 65,000 people has made a dedicated effort to restore its historic downtown area, which continues to display much of its nineteenth century charm in its restaurants, shops, and galleries.

While in Bloomington, don’t miss the McLean County Museum of History, housed in the historic 1903 courthouse at 200 N. Main Street. Listed on the National Register of Historic Sites, the museum displays items from early settlers, Abraham Lincoln, and a glimpse into the lives of Bloomington's early residents. For a view of the Route 66 era, Cotton's Village Inn continues to stand at 410 N. Main in Bloomington.

Continue your journey down old Route 66 to the ghost town of Funks Grove and more vintage era sites at McLean and Atlanta, Illinois.

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The McLean County Museum of History is housed

in the historic 1903 courthouse, photo courtesy

City of Bloomington

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To Funks Grove

Return to Route 66

To Odell

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