McLean County Museum of History
The building outside of which you're now standing wasn't even here during my time in Bloomington. In fact, the building that was here when I first came to Bloomington in 18 and 38 was a two-story brick structure that had been put up the previous year.
McLean County's fourth courthouse, opened in 1903, is an outstanding example of the architectural style known as American Renaissance. Today the building is home to the McLean County Museum of History.
Lincoln practiced law in the second courthouse, a two-story Federalist Style building located on the southeast corned of the courthouse lawn. It was torn down in 1868. Lincoln, who regularly visited Bloomington as a lawyer on the Eighth Judicial Circuit, argued numerous cases in that courthouse. In addition, the Courthouse Square served as a center for political activity, and Lincoln listened to and delivered campaign speeches on this site.
The south wall of the second courthouse was excavated in 2014 when this plaza was constructed. The location of the wall is marked by a brass bar as you enter the Museum.
