BLOOMINGTON
COMMUNITY M GUIDE 2024 2
Showcasing history for 60 years
22 | Bloomington Community Guide | 2024
Artifacts , photographs and other reminders of Bloomington ’ s past have been preserved for six decades by the Bloomington Historical Society .
The Historical Society operates the Old Town Hall History Museum , providing glimpses of the city ’ s origin and early history .
Built in 1892 and extensively renovated in 2007 , Old Town Hall served as the town headquarters and a meeting place for the Town Board . It was a community meeting place where celebrations , dances and other social festivities were held . The city of Bloomington ’ s administrative offices were housed in the building until 1964 .
Since 1964 , the building has been home to the Historical Society ’ s museum and research center , which features exhibits and artifacts from the pioneer days through the mid-century population boom .
From a Native American dugout canoe to photos and artifacts from the former Metropolitan Stadium , the museum contains a vast collection of Bloomington history .
The dugout canoe was discovered along the Minnesota river bluffs in Bloomington in 1967 . After being authenticated by the Minnesota Historical Society , it is on permanent display at the museum . The museum also houses the Irwin Norling photo collection . The collection consists of approximately 10,000 images , taken by Norling from 1953 through the 1970s . The collection chronicles the life of the Bloomington community and features index and caption information provided by Norling , who was a meticulous record keeper . His photos of the building of Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington are a collection highlight .
Another area of the museum honors military service by Bloomington residents , with a collection of uniforms from both world wars .
A volunteer board of directors oversees the Historical Society , a nonprofit organization , and the museum .
The Historical Society organizes periodic events and presentations through the year , and also maintains a display case at the Bloomington Center for the Arts .
The Old Town Hall Museum is operated by an all-volunteer staff and funded by memberships and visitor donations . It is open 1-5 p . m . Wednesdays and Saturdays and 1-8 p . m . Thursdays .
Old Town Hall History Museum 10200 Penn Ave . 952-881-4114 bloomingtonhistoricalsociety . org