What to See in Bloomington-Normal - Top Sights and Attractions

The Fell Arboretum is an arboretum located across the campus of Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois.

The arboretum began in 1867 when Jesse W. Fell, the university's founder, obtained $3,000 from the state legislature for campus landscaping. He planted 1,740 trees on campus that year and 107 trees the following year. An enthusiastic tree planter, Fell wished the campus to contain every tree native to Illinois. In 1995 the campus was formally registered as an arboretum and named in Fell's honor.^[1]

Truss bridge in Normal, Illinois. The Camelback Bridge is a restored historic wooden bridge that arches over the Constitution Trail in Normal, Illinois. It is on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The bridge's main span is a wooden kingpost pony truss. The bridge is supported by Phoenix columns, a type of wrought iron column that was patented by the Phoenix Iron Company in 1862. It is one of only two bridges in Illinois using the columns.^[2]

Concerts and shows, Theater

Building in Normal, Illinois. John W. Cook Hall, or Cook Hall, is a building which resembles a castle on the Quad of Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. Cook Hall, named for the university's fourth president, has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since the winter of 1986.

Cook Hall is one of "Altgeld's castles": it was designed toward the end of the administration of Illinois Governor John Peter Altgeld. Altgeld was a German native who favored Gothic Revival architecture.

The building's original purpose (as well as its name) was "Gymnasium". It was eventually converted for other uses as larger gyms were constructed on campus. It currently houses the School of Music.^[3]

Building in Normal, Illinois. Sprague's Super Service is a historic independent gas station on Route 66 in Normal, Illinois.

A Tudor revival building constructed in 1931 by William Sprague to house a service station, restaurant and garage, it is the largest of three remaining two-story fuel station buildings on US 66, originally housing a café and service station on the main floor plus two second-floor apartments for the owner and the station attendant.^[4]

Mansion. Broadview Mansion, is a twenty-two room Edwardian style mansion located in Normal, Illinois, near Illinois Wesleyan University. The three-story estate, originally situated on five acres of land, was built in 1906 for Bird Calladay and Margaret VanLeer. The mansion was formerly known as the VanLeer mansion. It is currently owned and operated by the Immanuel Bible Foundation.^[5]

Public university in Normal, Illinois. Illinois State University is a public research university in Normal, Illinois. Founded in 1857 as Illinois State Normal University, it is the oldest public university in Illinois. The university emphasizes teaching and is recognized as one of the top ten largest producers of teachers in the US according to the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education. It is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity".

The university's athletic teams are members of the Missouri Valley Conference and the Missouri Valley Football Conference and are known as the "Redbirds," in reference to the state bird, the cardinal.^[6]

Community college in Normal, Illinois. Heartland Community College is a public community college with campuses in Normal, Lincoln, and Pontiac, Illinois.^[7]