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, full event descriptions are not provided if there is a link to the event. Please follow the link for more information.
August 19, 2026, 1-5pm
2025 College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy and IU Athletics Exhibit Open House
Indiana University
McCalla Building, 525 East 9th Street, Bloomington, IN 47408
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 7, 2026,1-2pm
Unlawful Advances: How Feminists Transformed Title IX with Author Dr. Celene Reynolds
a presentation by Celene Reynolds, Assistant Professor of Sociology
Kinsey Institute Guest Lecture
Via zoom and in-person and Lindley Hall 328 (register through link above)
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 25th, 12:15-1:30
Travelling to Bloomington – a history
Presented by Dr. John Butler
Monroe County History Club
American Legion Post 18, 1800 W. 3rd St.
November 28th, 1-2:30
History Book Club: The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhhon
Monroe County History Center, 202 E. 6th
December 29th, 12:15-1:30
50 Years of Bloomington Restorations, Inc.
Presented by Devin Blankenship
Monroe County History Club
American Legion Post 18, 1800 W. 3rd St.
January 26th, 12:15-1:30
Keeping IU in Bloomington – The 1854 fire, local donors, and free tuition for their descendants
Presented by John Summerlot
Monroe County History Club
American Legion Post 18, 1800 W. 3rd St.
February 23rd, 12:15-1:30
History of the Indiana Limestone Industry
Presented by Dr. Clay Stuckey
Monroe County History Club
American Legion Post 18, 1800 W. 3rd St.
RECENT BOOKS, VIDEOS, EXHIBITS, AND OTHER LINKS
Book: Making Indiana University: History, Landscape, and a Sense of Place
James Capshew, Ph.D.
Article: Omne Mali Avertam O Deus: The Civil War Diary of Theophilus A. Wylie, 1861-1862
Edited by Dawn E. Bakken, Justin Hawkins, and David A. Nichols
(This is a two part-series and the second one will be out in the next issue of IMH.)
Podcast (Video): America 250 (3 of 6): Indiana’s Patriots – How does Indiana’s connections to the Revolutionary War continue to shape institutions today?
Les Lenkowsky, John Summerlot, and James Capshew
Indiana Public Media
Video recording of the latest Monroe County History Club presentation:
The Mill Murders: A True Tale of Race, Sex and Murder
presented by Dr. Clay Stuckey
Great news story about the Monroe County History Club:
Local club breathes life into Monroe County history
from Indiana Public Media
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
Exhibit: Louisa’s Garden Tour
Wylie House Museum
Friday and Saturdays (with some exceptions, see link) through August 15th
Exhibit: A Stitch in Time: Home Sewing of the 1960s and 1970s
University Collections at McCalla
525 E. 9th St
See link for hours. Exhibit is through August 21st.
Not local, but it was a really great presentation:
Monroe County History Talk 