Bloomington-Normal Area Convention & Visitors BureauBN Life
Abraham Lincoln
McLean County Museum of History and Visitors Center Re-Opening!
The McLean County Museum of History and Cruisin’ with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center will reopen to the public at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 1! To make it even more exciting, they are opening their doors again on the first Saturday of the Outdoor Farmers’ Market Season that takes place on the Museum Square! Housed […]
Bloomington-Normal is home to many gorgeous murals, sculptures, and public art pieces. From Downtown Bloomington and Uptown Normal to ISU and IWU campuses, public masterpieces can be found at nearly every corner. Local artists for these pieces range from high schoolers to seasoned professionals! With winter coming, you might want to warm up by perusing […]
BN Our History – Lincoln’s Festival on Route 66
Abraham Lincoln made his first visit to Bloomington-Normal in 1837 when he was a lawyer on the eighth judicial circuit. During this time, he met two residents who would not only become his close friends, but the most important political backers in his quest for state and national office: Jesse Fell and David Davis. According […]
In Bloomington-Normal, summer is truly the fest of times. No matter your area of interest, BN has a summer festival for you! Champagne British Car Festival June 2 David Davis Mansion Presented by the Flatlanders British Car Club, the event features vehicles of all British makes for view on the elegant setting of the Mansion […]
February 12 will mark President Abraham Lincoln’s 210th birthday. Few places in Illinois played a more important role in shaping Lincoln’s political success than Bloomington-Normal. It was home to some of Lincoln’s closest friends and colleagues, including Jesse Fell and David Davis, and its residents became some of his most important backers in his pursuit […]
From delicious food to important moments in history Avanti’s Italian Restaurant You don’t need to travel across the pond to try some classic Italian food. Avanti’s has been serving Italian dishes to the BN community since it was founded here in 1971. But it’s most famous menu item is the gondola: ham, salami, cheese […]
Can you imagine a United States of America where slavery is still in practice? Can you envision not a United States of America, but a country divided in two; the Union and the Confederacy? Had Abraham Lincoln not been our nation’s 16th president, these might have been a reality today. “Bloomington-Normal is the most significant […]
While most summer activities are meant to be enjoyed outside, sometimes the warm weather can be too hot to handle. The entire Midwest is suffering a heat wave, and temperatures are skyrocketing to dangerous heights. During a heat advisory, the best place to be in indoors. Take a look at our suggestions for fun things […]
Summer Festivals in Bloomington-Normal
Summer is Bloomington-Normal’s most action-packed season. Here are the major festivals happening in our area! Glorious Garden Festival June 15-16 David Davis Mansion Numerous gardens in Bloomington-Normal are featured on this garden walk. Take a tour of Sarah Davis’ garden, which still contains 16 plants that she originally planted in the 1870s. Tickets are […]
The work that the travel and tourism industry does is vital to the economy. In 2017, Bloomington-Normal had 220,000 visitors and 44,611 hotel room nights, which generated an economic impact of $6,959,316. For every $1 of hotel tax received, $10.04 was returned to the local economy. Nationally, tourism is a $2.1 trillion industry. The industry […]
