It is the principal asset of the McLean County Historical Society, an Illinois nonprofit organization, which was founded in 1892 to study local history.

The initial purpose of the McLean County Historical Society was to meet and present papers on local history topics.

On June 19, 1900, a fire in downtown Bloomington destroyed four and a half square blocks and caused major damage to the structure.

[5] The Museum's collection consists of materials that document the growth and development of McLean County from the prehistoric period through the present.

The Museum's permanent exhibit, Challenges, Choices, and Change, explores the lives of the people who settled McLean County.

It makes clear the circumstances of his nomination for president in 1860, and explores the lasting connections Lincoln made with the people of this community.

The Stevenson-Ives Library and Benjamin Hoopes Family Archives contain a wide range of primary and secondary source material relating to Central Illinois history from the early 1800s to present.

Types of materials housed in the archives include correspondence, diaries, business and farm ledgers, newspapers, maps, photographs, manuscripts, and oral histories.

The Museum also loans kits (a Museum-in-a-box) to classrooms which provide object-based learning on various topics for students through artifacts, reproductions, and activities.

Additionally, the Museum offers tours, field trips, presentations, and a History Careers Day Camp.

Children can experience life in the early 19th century by pushing a steel plow, carrying water, gardening, milking a cow, trying on period clothes, and other activities.

Each year, local professional actors portray a variety of individuals who lived in McLean County, bringing their diverse stories to life.