This site is dedicated to American history enthusiasts that live in Bloomington and Monroe County, Indiana. There are so many great history programs from so many great places in town that it is hard to keep up with them all. This site will do it’s best to list upcoming programs, events, and newly published materials. Don’t forget, if you are on a computer, you can push “CTRL” and “F” to search the page for specific words.
Do you have an event, exhibit, or publication to submit? Scroll to the bottom!
UPCOMING TALKS AND EVENTS
All events are free and no ticket is needed unless stated otherwise.
To save space/scrolling, event descriptions are not provided if there is a link to the event. Please follow the link for more information.
May 1, 2026, 4:30-7pm
Louisa’s Garden Exhibition Opening
Brave. Complex. Cherished. Meet Louisa Wylie Boisen (1839–1930) through a garden of student and staff exhibits.
Wylie House Museum
307 E. Second St.
May 1, 2026, 2-3:30pm
Tour of Thomas Hart Benton’s Indiana Murals
Join us for a rare opportunity to visit all three locations of the Indiana Murals. Learn about hidden histories of the murals, hear intriguing stories, and look for unique details connected with Indiana history.
IU Auditorium
Registration required. See link.
May 8, 2026, 7-9pm
Beyond the Thirteen Colonies: The Declaration of Independence in the Political and Social Context of Vast 18th Century America
Amy Ransford is an Academic Specialist in the Department of History at IU, with an interest in the early modern Atlantic world and early America. She is also Associate Editor on the Journal of American History, Indiana University. Her current book project explores kinship and trade networks of the Hudson River Valley over the course of the 17th and 18th centuries.
Monroe County History Center, 202 E. 6th St.
May 9, 2026, 10am-2pm
Headstone Restoration Workshop
Join the Monroe County History Center Cemetery Committee & the Prospect Hill Neighborhood Association to learn the basics of headstone cleaning and repair. Wear outdoor work clothes, bring work gloves and knee pads if you’d like. Please bring your own water and snacks.
Rose Hill Cemetery
Also happening June 6, September 5, October 3
May 19, 2026, 7pm
Richard Comes Home from the War: Life and Death in the Civil War Diary of Theophilus A. Wylie, 1861-1865
A presentation by Justin Hawkins, PhD Candidate and assistant editor of the Indiana Magazine of History
Hosted by the Monroe County Civil War Roundtable
Monroe County History Center, 202 E. 6th St.
May 21, 2026, 5:30-6:30pm
America250 with Hoosier Character
Celebrate America250, the 250th anniversary of the United States, by sleuthing historical county and city maps to find out who lived and worked on the plotted land in Monroe County. Age 12 and up.
Monroe County Library, Downtown, Meeting Room 1C
May 26, 2026, 12:15pm
George Rogers Clark and Revolution in Indiana and the old Northwest
a presentation by Kon Dierks, IU History Department
Monroe County History Club Meeting
American Legion Post 18, 1800 W 3rd St.
May 30, 2026, All Day
Declaration of Independence Curator Talks
See the Lilly Library’s rare original copy of the Declaration of Independence and learn all about it from Erika Dowell, curator of the library’s 2026 exhibition about the nation’s founding document.
Registration is required. See link for info.
IU Lilly Library
Also happening on June 13, and July 18
June 6, 2026, 10am-2pm
Headstone Restoration Workshop
Join the Monroe County History Center Cemetery Committee & the Prospect Hill Neighborhood Association to learn the basics of headstone cleaning and repair. Wear outdoor work clothes, bring work gloves and knee pads if you’d like. Please bring your own water and snacks.
Rose Hill Cemetery
Also happening September 5, October 3
June 7-12, 2026, All Day
Though Mini U includes more than history it has a lot of great history programs! Follow the link to learn more about this week-long experience.
Various IU Campus Locations (mostly the IMU)
June 11, 2026, 5:30-6:30pm
America250 with Hoosier Character
Celebrate America250, the 250th anniversary of the United States, by sleuthing historical county and city maps to find out who lived and worked on the plotted land in Monroe County. Age 12 and up.
Monroe County Library, Downtown, Meeting Room 2C
June 12-13, 2026, 8am-4pm
Monroe County History Center Garage Sale
4015 Profile Parkway
June 13, 2026, All Day
Declaration of Independence Curator Talks
See the Lilly Library’s rare original copy of the Declaration of Independence and learn all about it from Erika Dowell, curator of the library’s 2026 exhibition about the nation’s founding document.
Registration is required. See link for info.
IU Lilly Library
Also happening on July 18
June 27, 2026, 1-2:30pm
History Book Club: Rise to Rebellion: A Novel of the American Revolution by Jeff Shaara
Everyone is welcome – you don’t have to attend regularly and you don’t have to read the books in order to join a discussion.
Monroe County History Center, 202 E. 6th St.
June 30, 2026, 12:15pm
The Mill Murders of 1946
a presentation by Dr. Clay Stuckey
Monroe County History Club Meeting
American Legion Post 18, 1800 W 3rd St.
July 16, 2026, 5:30-6:30pm
America250 with Hoosier Character
Celebrate America250, the 250th anniversary of the United States, by sleuthing historical county and city maps to find out who lived and worked on the plotted land in Monroe County. Age 12 and up.
Monroe County Library, Downtown, Meeting Room 2C
July 18, 2026, All Day
Declaration of Independence Curator Talks
See the Lilly Library’s rare original copy of the Declaration of Independence and learn all about it from Erika Dowell, curator of the library’s 2026 exhibition about the nation’s founding document.
Registration is required. See link for info.
IU Lilly Library
July 25th, 1-2:30
History Book Club: Declaration: The Nine Tumultuous Weeks When American Became Independent by William Hogeland
Monroe County History Center, 202 E. 6th
July 28, 2026, 12:15pm
Become an IU (History) Insider
a presentation by Dina Kellams, IU Archives
Monroe County History Club Meeting
American Legion Post 18, 1800 W 3rd St.
August 25, 2026, 12:15pm
Indiana University + T.C. Steele
a presentation by Jessica Stephens
Monroe County History Club
American Legion Post 18, 1800 W. 3rd St.
September 5, 2026, 10am-2pm
Headstone Restoration Workshop
Join the Monroe County History Center Cemetery Committee & the Prospect Hill Neighborhood Association to learn the basics of headstone cleaning and repair. Wear outdoor work clothes, bring work gloves and knee pads if you’d like. Please bring your own water and snacks.
Rose Hill Cemetery
Also happening October 3
September 26th, 1-2:30
History Book Club: The Secret War of Julia Child by Diana Chambers
Monroe County History Center, 202 E. 6th
September 29, 2026, 12:15pm
The Lay of the Land: Geography and the Development of Manufacturing in Monroe County, 1820-1880
a presentation by Dr. David Nord, Monroe County Historian
Monroe County History Club
American Legion Post 18, 1800 W. 3rd St.
October 3, 2026, 10am-2pm
Headstone Restoration Workshop
Join the Monroe County History Center Cemetery Committee & the Prospect Hill Neighborhood Association to learn the basics of headstone cleaning and repair. Wear outdoor work clothes, bring work gloves and knee pads if you’d like. Please bring your own water and snacks.
Rose Hill Cemetery
October 27, 2026, 12:15pm
Lewis and Clark in Indiana
a presentation by Craig Fehrman
Monroe County History Club
American Legion Post 18, 1800 W. 3rd St.
October 31st, 1-2:30
History Book Club: A Girl Called Samson by Amy Harmon
Monroe County History Center, 202 E. 6th
November 28th, 1-2:30
History Book Club: The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhhon
Monroe County History Center, 202 E. 6th
RECENT BOOKS, VIDEOS, EXHIBITS, AND OTHER LINKS
Book: Making Indiana University: History, Landscape, and a Sense of Place
James Capshew, Ph.D.
Latest Monroe County History Club Presentation: Bloomington to Vietnam-The Heroic Journey & Tragic Loss of Bruce Shaffer, presented by John Summerlot
Exhibit: Antique Quilt Exhibit
Wylie House Museum
Through April 25th
Exhibit: Returning to the World: Vietnam Veterans’ Journeys
Cook Center, Maxwell Hall, IU Campus
Through July 3rd
Exhibit: The Declaration of Independence: The Motives, the Moment
Lilly Library
Through July 24th
Exhibit: Revolution & Reflection: Campus Experiences in Art, History, and Ideas
Lilly Library, Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, and IU Auditorium
Through July 31st
Exhibit: By Their Own Hands: The Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame Exhibit
University Collections, McCalla School
Through July 31st
Not local, but it was a really great presentation:
Monroe County History Talk 