Museum Reflection

Taking a break from class to visit the museum felt like a nice change in our routine. Sadly, I had never been there in the 10 years that I have lived in McLean County. I cannot point to one specific reason for not going there before now. I had only a vague impression of what was even in the museum in the first place; I rarely ever travel to downtown Bloomington because I usually have no reason to be there; and I do not really pay close attention to the history of the area (Who knew that McLean County was so interesting?). However, this class has encouraged me to learn more about my surroundings rather than just go about my day without worrying about things that do not seem to directly affect me. I think that understanding the history can not only be interesting, but also useful in realizing why certain things are the way that they are today.

Often, I question history as a discipline because so much is left untold, and the facts are generally skewed towards a particular position/ideal. Just as statistics can be used to show virtually anything, history can sometimes be manipulated to portray a certain perspective. Museums are not always an exception, but they do seem to tie together a vast amount of information in a more appealing manner (as compared to textbooks, for example).

Despite my negative reaction to the field, I do appreciate the events that occurred in the past, and I am fascinated to learn about all of life's mysteries. History ties into virtually every other discipline because we often need to comprehend the past before we can move forward. Clearly, this idea holds true in politics as well. Besides the fact that the museum had a specific room dedicated to politics, the concerns of the people are represented in every aspect of people's lives. Knowing about how the Yankees and the Germans/Irish fought over the issue of alcohol provides useful background information about some of the political debate that would have occurred back then. Life is political, and history captures "politics" both directly and indirectly.

I truly enjoyed walking through the museum. I was able to learn a lot of information, especially what was included on the worksheets. Unfortunately, I was not completely focused on taking in the experience in the same way as if I had gone there on my own time. Having a worksheet to do guided my time, but I felt drawn away from some of the finer details. As a result, I did walk around a few of the rooms after completing the worksheet to try to appreciate the experience all the more. I was able to see some intriguing sights and read some unusual facts. One image showed street cars, and I never would have guessed that Bloomington once had those. I was also unaware about much of the time that Abraham Lincoln spent in the area. This trip further sparked my curiosity and makes me wonder about the history of other seemingly ordinary locations. I will definitely attempt to pay more attention to the world around me, and I hope to share that passion with others (including bringing friends to the museum).