Bloomington Sale Barn
US 51 South, Bloomington
829-8091

Since 1937, Bloomington-Normal has been the only place in the world where Beer Nuts have been manufactured.

Once named "Redskins" because they were prepared with their red skins intact, they became officially named "Beer Nuts" because of the glazed peanuts early success in taverns and bars in the surrounding communities. Free samples are available in one of the two company retail stores.

HOURS:	Plant Location
	Monday - Friday	8am - 5pm
	Closed on Saturday
	Bloomington Sale Barn
	Monday - Friday	10am - 6pm
	Saturday	10am - 4pm
ADMISSION:	Free

Sample food, fun and horse racing from various tracks across the Midwest, including Sportsman's and Balmoral. Banquet room available.

HOURS:	Daily	11:00am - Midnight
ADMISSION:	Free

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The Castle Theater
209 East Washington, Bloomington
309.829.4647
Admission : $8.50 - $12.50

The Castle Theater is the area's only independently owned and operated movie theater and offers its patrons a unique and stylish alternative to the traditional movie going experience. Going to the movies should be an exciting event and while renovating the theater, we've tried to recapture some of that old time magic while adding some modern perks.

What sets the Castle apart from other theaters is what's in store for our guests once they walk through the door. The Castle is furnished with a variety of cafe tables, comfortable couches and love seats. A wide variety of movies will be shown, ranging from independent films to big Hollywood blockbusters. The original stage has been restored so that guests can enjoy bands and other live performances in an elegant and intimate setting.

Last but certainly not least, the Castle gives new meaning to the idea of "dinner and a movie" as we offer pizzas, sandwiches, desserts, as well as a wide variety of beers and wines.

How The Castle Works
Guests of the Castle purchase tickets and order food at the ticket booth located in the main lobby. After paying, they're issued a ticket with an order number on it. They then go pick up their order at one of the two concession booths located in the theater. For an additional charge, you can sit up in the balcony where you'll be waited on by one of our servers. It's that easy! We're currently working to bring Bloomington a unique cinema and dining experience.

Please visit our website at here for current movies and times. See you at the movies!

The Challenger Learning Center at Prairie Aviation Museum is a not-for-profit educational organization offering an interactive simulated space science experience for students, public and corporate groups. Through scheduled team missions, the Challenger Learning Center promotes leadership, communications, problem-solving and critical thinking skills while supporting our country's goals of improving science, math and technology education.

Finally, the newest and most exciting children's museum to come to the Midwest is here! It's the new Town of Normal Children's Discovery Museum. Come experience three floors of unique, hands-on, larger than life exhibits;climb into the two-story Luckey climber; join in the fun of new and exciting hands-on educational programs; shop at the Museum Store or have a party on the Landings.

A visit to the Children's Discovery Museum creates a sense of wonder that excites that love of learning in children of all ages. This is completely different kind of museum - because touching the exhibits is actually encouraged. It's a liberty kids are seldom afforded in a museum - or anywhere else! A visit to the Children's Discovery Museum is a chance to
explore, imagine, play and learn while nurturing the love learning that lasts a lifetime.

HOURS:	Tuesday - Wednesday	9am - 5pm
	Thursday - Friday	9am - 8pm
	Saturday	9am - 5pm
	Sunday	1 pm - 5pm
ADMISSION:	$4 (Under 2 Free)
	Memberships Available

This Environmental Education Facility houses permanent audio/visual wildlife displays, artifacts originating from the site, a rotating summer exhibit program and other educational displays.

HOURS:	Open year-round
ADMISSION:	Free

A visit to Judge David Davis’ estate offers a glimpse into the lives of the wealthy and powerful of its day. Davis helped Abraham Lincoln win the 1860 Presidential nomination; Lincoln appointed Davis to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Judge’s Victorian mansion contains elegant furnishings and the most modern conveniences of the era - coal-burning stove, gas lighting and indoor plumbing. Other highlights include the barn where Lincoln’s horse was stabled, woodhouse, and flower garden.

Groups of 10 or more must pre-arrange a visit. Sixty minute tours begin every half hour in the Barn/Visitors Center north of the mansion. An informational video precedes the tour. The Mansion is handicapped accessible.

HOURS:	Wednesday-Sunday	9am - 4pm
Holidays:	Call for hours
ADMISSION:	Suggested donation:	Adult $2.00
		Youth $1.00

This is a walk-in information and environmental education center for individuals, classes, workshops and meetings. Open in 1995, it provides the community with practical workshops on recycling, composting and energy saving; nature walks; and educational field trips for schools and groups. Various publications and materials are available.

HOURS:	Monday - Thurdsay	1 - 6 pm
	Saturday	1 - 5 pm
ADMISSION:	Free

Evelyn Chapel has won international acclaim for both architecture and interior design. A Casavant-Freres organ with more than 1,650 pipes, is an integral part of the building's design.

Concerts are open to the public during the academic year. Pre-arranged visits are welcome. All tours are self-guided.

HOURS:	September - May
	Monday - Thursday	8am - 9pm
	Monday - Thursday	8am - 9pm
	Friday	8am - 5pm
	Saturday - Sunday	10am - 5pm
ADMISSION:	Free

This facility boasts several exciting amenities for children, adults and families to enjoy. A sand/water play area for children and two competition sand volleyball courts, a concession stand & bathhouse complete this family facility.

The activity pool features arched water jets, water sprays, a Polar Bear slide and a water mushroom along the zero depth edge and six lanes for lap swimming in the 5’ area. The plunge pool features a one meter diving board and two drop slides. The drop slides offer a new thrill to riders by allowing them to free fall 2-4 feet before coming into contact with the water. Two 42’ high seamless water slides excite both adults and children.

HOURS:	Memorial Day - Labor Day	12 pm - 8pm
ADMISSION:	Children 2 years & under	Free
	Youth (3-17)	$3.75
	Adults (18+)	$4.75
	(Children 11 and under must be accompanied by a paying adult.)

Many 19th century Victorian homes (which are now private residences) border the park, including those of Adlai Stevenson and former Governor of Illinois "Private Joe" Fifer.

ADMISSION:

Free

Reservations required. The restored 1864 residence of Illinois State Senator, co-founder and director of Chicago's Union Stockyards, and cattle-king of Illinois, Lafayette Funk, includes historic memorabilia and antiques of the Funk Family. Hear an original, working Victrola or see the first-ever electric kitchen island. Other luxuries include hot and cold running water, a formal garden with water fountain and colored lights, and a lighted tennis court on the lawn.
The Gem & Mineral Museum features the Hall of Gems & Minerals with its dazzling display of many rare and beautiful stones and the Indian artifact room with early examples of Native American culture.

HOURS:	Tuesday - Saturday	9am - 4pm
	Closed January - February
ADMISSION:	Free

Guided tours offered during February and March show sirup-making by the “boiling down” process. Tours for groups up to 30 must be arranged in advance and depend upon weather conditions. Shop in the gift store stocked with our sirup as well as Route 66 memorabilia. Store is open March through August.

Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame
8 Traders Circle, Normal
452-8300 or 815-452-2903

Located at the Holiday Inn, the IBCA Hall of Fame honors players, coaches, teams, officials, media and friends of basketball for their efforts with the game in Illinois basketball history.

HOURS:	Open 24 hours a day
ADMISSION:	Free

Located at Prairie Vista Golf Course, this Hall of Fame honors Illinois high school golf coaches and others for their efforts on behalf of Junior Golfers and high school golf at the local, state and national levels of the game.

HOURS:	Course hours
ADMISSION:	Free

The Illinois State University Farm is a teaching, research and demonstrating farm. We have 360 acres in Lexington, and farm 250 more acres in Normal. We have Beef, Sheep and Swine herds on the farm. We are a working farm that uses our resources for teaching and research along with production. There is also a Weed Identification Plot and a Crops of the World Plot. We work with a number of seed and chemical companies on field crop research.

TOURS:	By appointment only M-F, for groups of up to 20.
ADMISSION:	Free

The majesty of the "night" sky is recreated in this 100-seat celestial theater in-the-round by ISU's Physics Department Planetarium. Complex special effects are used to demonstrate the wonders of astronomy.

SHOWINGS:	Presentations are 60 minutes Private showings available by appointment only Tuesday - Friday, 9am - 4pm
ADMISSION:	Adults (13-59)	$2.00
	Youth (5-12) & Seniors (60+)	$1.50
	Pre-schoolers (3-4)	$1.00

This museum is located in the lower level of the Crumbaugh Library in Leroy. Displays pertaining to the early history of LeRoy are depicted and shown in glass cases. Vintage clothing is shown on mannequins. Historical scrapbooks are on tables for geneologists to read. Museum is handicapped accessible.

HOURS:	Saturday	1 - 4pm
ADMISSION:	Free
TOURS:	Available by appointment

The traditional Victorian home of Matthew T. Scott, a well-known agriculturalist, and his wife Julia Green, one of the founders of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), has been restored to its original condition. Groups are welcome.

HOURS:	Sunday	2 - 4pm
ADMISSION:	Free

McLean County Museum of History
200 N. Main St., Bloomington
827-0428

NNational Register of Historic Sites
From Kickapoo Indians to early European settlers, from the small town where Lincoln practiced law to today’s thriving community, the stories of this uniquely Midwestern place are told at the McLean County Museum of History.

Being showcased now through 2007 is Journey Through the Great Depression. This exhibit takes visitors on a “road trip” through the 1930’s. Other special exhibits include Headlines and Footnotes (19th-20th Century head and foot wear), on display March 6 - August 13, and African-Americans in McLean County beginning Fall 2005.

HOURS:	Monday - Saturday	10am - 5pm
	Tuesday	10am - 9pm
	Sunday	1 - 5pm (Sept. thru May)
	Closed most major holidays
ADMISSION:	Adults	$2.00
	Youth	$1.00
	Free on Tuesdays

This unique landmark was restored in 1977 and is quite impressive with its rambling porches, chandelier lighting and interesting design. The Korean/ Vietnam War Memorial was dedicated in May of 1988 and is a black granite memorial surrounded by red sidewalks. These sidewalks include the names of Central Illinois residents killed or missing in action in the Korean and Vietnam battles.

ADMISSION:

Free

A Bloomington-Normal landmark since 1891, Miller Park Zoo is one of only five zoos in Central Illinois and the only one to feature Sumatran tigers. Discover the indoor tropical rain forest with 20 different species of exotic birds. The outdoor exhibits feature sea lions, bald eagles, red wolves and the Wallaby Walk-about.

HOURS:	Fall, Winter & Spring
	Daily	10am - 4:30pm
	Memorial Day-Labor Day
	Daily	10am - 5pm
	Closed Christmas Day
ADMISSION:	Adults	$3.00
	Seniors	$2.00
	Youth (3-12)	$2.00

National Register of Historic Sites Located in downtown Normal, the Normal Theater opened in 1937 and was the first theater built in Bloomington-Normal specifically for sound films. The Normal Theater has been completely restored to its original condition. In addition to showing classic movies and art films to audiences, the theater is used for a variety of activities including music performances, group outings and meetings. The exterior of the theater looks today much like it did when it first opened. The strong art-deco/modern design was then very avant-garde for a small Illinois town.

ADMISSION:

Movies are $5.00

John Patton, one of the area’s first settlers, built the cabin in June, 1829. Unusual to the westward settlement of America, the cabin was built with the help of the areas Native Americans.

HOURS:	TBA
ADMISSION:	Free

At Prairie Aviation Museum see Lindbergh display, revolving aviation exhibits and memorabilia, a mini-theatre, world famous aircraft models and more.

Among the outdoor exhibits are the Bell Sea Cobra, Huey Helicopter, T-33A, Navy A-7A Corsair II, USAF T-38 Talon. The Museum’s flagship is the restored 1942 DC-3, listed on the National Register of Historic places. Visit the adjacent Challenger Learning Center and glimpse the exciting Mission Control and Space Station Simulators. Gift Shops are located in both buildings.

HOURS:	Monday	Closed
	Tuesday - Saturday	11 am - 4 pm
	Sunday (April - November)	11 am - 8 pm
	Also by appointment Group tours available
ADMISSION:	$2 Adult; $1 Child; Under 5 Free; Members Free

Reservations required. Built in 1853, the house of blacksmith Robert Ingle has undergone extensive restoration. The museum features antiques, a Rike family bible, Leroy’s first piano and the original fireplace.

HOURS:	During special events or by appointment
ADMISSION:	Free

Mr. Simpkins began his extensive and unique personal collection of Civil War artifacts when he was 12 years old. The museum grew from there. Permanent displays show artifacts from the Civil War, Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, Korean War, Vietnam War, and Desert Storm. Visitors may view over 130 pieces of military headgear, over 300 uniforms and more than 50 military weapons. The museum’s motto is not to glorify war, but to honor the warriors. The museum can accommodate up to 45 people and is handicap accessible.

HOURS:	May - September
	Sunday (October - May)	1 - 5 pm
	or throughout school year by appointment
ADMISSION:	Free

A plaque commemorates the building where, on May 29, 1856, at a convention of the Republican Party of Illinois, Abraham Lincoln addressed a room of delegates and reporters with what was to become known as his “lost speech.” Although there are no true records of the speech, it was this event that propelled Lincoln to the White House.

HOURS:	Open 24 hours a day
ADMISSION:	Free

The Stevenson family has brought honor to McLean County for three generations. Buried here are Adlai I, Vice-President for Grover Cleveland, and Adlai II, who was Governor of Illinois, Ambassador to the United Nations and twice Democratic candidate for the United States Presidency. Also, buried here are Adlai ’s wife, Letitia Green Stevenson, who was the 2nd National President-General of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) from 1893-1898, and her sister, Julia Green Scott, the 7th National President-General of the DAR from 1909-1913.

HOURS:	During Cemetery Hours M-F 8:30 - 4:00
ADMISSION:	Free

The Telephone Museum houses a collection of early telephones, equipment and memorabilia associated with the ongoing development of a rural, independent telephone company established in 1900. The 1920 Gridley Telephone office is set up exactly as it was in 1920. The old switchboard is a “hands on” working interactive visitor’s display. You will see many old telephones from 1890’s to present day, including some very rare models. There is a revolving display of interesting Gridley photos and artifacts. Groups are welcome. Museum is handicapped accessible.

Upper Limits is the tallest indoor climbing facility in the world and is rated the number one place to climb in the world by the Discovery and Travel channels. With more than 20,000 square feet of climbing surface, it has 44 separate lines of roped routes and eight overhangings and/or roof routes. Upper Limits meets or exceeds the highest standards set by the industry. Upper Limits offers a warm-up area, proshop, equipment rental, instruction classes and seminars, group rates, and locker rooms. Come see why Upper Limits has been featured and showcased by such popular media as Good Morning America, Sports Illustrated and ESPN.

HOURS:	Summer hours (May 1 -Sept 30)
	Monday	4 - 10pm
	Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursdy, Friday	Noon- 10pm
	Saturday	10am - 8pm
	Sunday	10am - 6pm
	Winter Hours (Oct 1 -April 30)
	Monday, Wednesday, Friday	4 - 10pm
	Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday	Noon - 10pm
	Sunday	10am - 6pm
ADMISSION:	Call for current cost of equipment rental and fees