Editing Normal, Illinois (section)

==Arts and culture==
[[File:CDM1.jpg|thumb|upright|Children's Discovery Museum, 2008]]
The Children's Discovery Museum in uptown Normal provides hands-on exhibits, classes and programs for children. The museum has three floors of exhibits including a two-story mesh climber for children to climb to the third floor and a {{convert|2000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} agriculture exhibit called AgMazing. The museum also offers education programs and houses the Discover More! Store.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.childrensdiscoverymuseum.net |title=Children's Discovery Museum |publisher=Childrensdiscoverymuseum.net |access-date=July 17, 2012 |archive-date=August 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120804105409/http://www.childrensdiscoverymuseum.net/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2010, the Children's Discovery Museum was deemed the best creative children's experience in Illinois by Media World USA's "Best of" Series.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.officialbestof.com/ |title=The Official Best in destinations across the country |publisher=The Official Best Of |access-date=July 17, 2012 |archive-date=August 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120815112155/http://officialbestof.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Children's Discovery Museum was subsequently featured on a Best of Illinois television program on CBS 2 WBBM Chicago and on the Travel Channel.<ref>http://www.officialbestof.com/state/illinois/2010/videos/CHILDRENS%20MUSEUMFINALWEB.wmv {{dead link|date=July 2012}}</ref>

The Illinois State University Planetarium offers a variety of science and astronomy programs for children from preschool to high-school. The planetarium is located in Felmley Hall of Science on ISU's campus. Public programs are usually offered on weekends and during special events.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.phy.ilstu.edu/planet.html |title=Illinois State University Planetarium Home Page |publisher=Phy.ilstu.edu |access-date=July 17, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516232255/http://www.phy.ilstu.edu/planet.html |archive-date=May 16, 2008 }}</ref>

The Challenger Learning Center relocated to Heartland Community College in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |last=Steinbacher |first=Michele |url=http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/article_72870844-0f79-11df-aa9d-001cc4c002e0.html |title=Challenger center lifts off at new high-tech home |publisher=Pantagraph.com |date=February 1, 2010 |access-date=July 17, 2012 |archive-date=February 4, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100204224217/http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/article_72870844-0f79-11df-aa9d-001cc4c002e0.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The Challenger Learning Center promotes leadership, communication, problem-solving and critical thinking skills while offering an interactive, simulated space and science experience through scheduled team missions for students, public and corporate groups.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.challengerlearningcenter.com/ |title=Normal, Illinois |publisher=Challenger Learning Center |access-date=April 29, 2013 |archive-date=March 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329015933/http://www.challengerlearningcenter.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Normal Public Library first began as a Reading Room sponsored by the Community Council with Margaret Hanna overseeing the collection of three hundred books. In 1938, citizens voted to help support the library through donations. In 1973, the library moved to its current location at 206 W. College Avenue. As of 2018, the library's collection has grown to nearly 200,000 materials.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.normalpl.org/about-us|title=About Us|website=Normal Public Library|date=March 13, 2017|access-date=October 22, 2018|archive-date=June 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180606070235/http://www.normalpl.org/about-us|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Theatre===
[[File:Normal Theater, Normal, IL.jpg|thumb|[[Normal Theater]]]]

[[Normal Theater]] opened in 1937 and was the first theater in Bloomington-Normal built specifically for sound films. The strong [[art-deco]] design was, at the time, very avant-garde for a small Illinois town. The Normal Theater has been completely restored to its original condition. In addition to showing classic movies and independent films, the theater is used for a variety of activities including group outings, meetings and other events where assembly seating is required.<ref>{{cite web |first=Rachael |last=Mellen |url=http://www.normaltheater.com |title=Normal Theater, IL - Official Website |publisher=Normaltheater.com |access-date=July 17, 2012 |archive-date=February 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205221506/http://www.normaltheater.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Braden Auditorium, located inside [[Illinois State University]]'s Bone Student Center, serves as the hub of student life at ISU and a landmark resource to the Bloomington-Normal community. The Auditorium seats 3,457. Eight to ten annual shows feature a variety of [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] musicals, pop and country stars, touring variety shows, comedians and big name performers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bsc.ilstu.edu/ |title=Bone Student Center: Illinois State University |publisher=Bsc.ilstu.edu |access-date=July 17, 2012 |archive-date=May 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502092718/http://www.bsc.ilstu.edu/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Town of Normal Parks and Recreation Department's "Normal Summer Music Theatre" program celebrated its 40th season in 2011. This program invites students in grades 8–12 to perform in two different productions each summer at the Connie Link Amphitheater.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.normalsummertheatre.com/ |title=Normal Parks and Recreation Summer Music Theatre |publisher=Normalsummertheatre.com |access-date=July 17, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322100504/http://www.normalsummertheatre.com/ |archive-date=March 22, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Heartland Theatre Company performs a number of plays every season. Heartland's Annual 10-Minute Play Festival attracts playwrights from all over the country and their "New Plays from the Heartland" Midwest One-Act Play Competition allows winning playwrights from eight Midwest states to share their original works with audiences.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.heartlandtheatre.org/ |title=Heartland Theatre Company &#124; Think. Feel. Live! |publisher=Heartlandtheatre.org |access-date=July 17, 2012 |archive-date=March 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307215545/http://www.heartlandtheatre.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Illinois State University Center for the Performing Arts provides the ISU campus and greater Central Illinois community with a wide variety of cultural activities. More than 20,000 people attend annual performances produced by the Illinois State University Schools of Music and Theatre in the center and all performances are open to the public.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cfa.ilstu.edu/ |title=College of Fine Arts – Illinois State University |publisher=Cfa.ilstu.edu |access-date=July 17, 2012 |archive-date=December 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111213165737/http://www.cfa.ilstu.edu/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Prairie Fire Theatre is a not-for-profit organization, incorporated in 1998. All events are performed and directed by local talent, drawing from a largely untapped but highly skilled pool of professional artists.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.prairiefiretheatre.org/ |title=Prairie Fire Theatre |publisher=Prairie Fire Theatre |date=May 8, 2014 |access-date=August 10, 2014 |archive-date=August 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812210340/http://www.prairiefiretheatre.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Events===
Make Music Normal has coincided with the international Make Music Day in June since 2013. The two-day festival highlights musicians from the Central Illinois area on multiple stages around Uptown. Local artists and vendors complete the festival atmosphere.<ref>{{cite web | title=Make Music Normal on Facebook | website=[[Facebook]] | url=https://www.facebook.com/makemusicnormal/posts/2282235115372820?__tn__=K-R | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411224308/https://www.facebook.com/login/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fmakemusicnormal%2Fposts%2F2282235115372820%3F__tn__%3DK-R | archive-date=April 11, 2022 | url-status=live | access-date=July 5, 2019 }}</ref>

Established in 1983, the Sugar Creek Arts Festival is held each autumn in Uptown Normal. The combination of high-quality art, live music and food has kept the streets of Normal full of color and activity for over 22 years. The festival has a unique trait- only original pieces of artwork are shown; not copies of prints or items purchased overseas. The Sugar Creek Arts Festival, hosted by the McLean Country Arts Center, is one of the largest art festivals in Central Illinois and continues to grow.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mcaart.org/mcac/html/sugarcreek.html |title=McLean County Arts Center: Sugar Creek Art Festival |publisher=Mcaart.org |date=July 8, 2012 |access-date=July 17, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728141149/http://www.mcaart.org/mcac/html/sugarcreek.html |archive-date=July 28, 2012 }}</ref>

The Sweet Corn Blues Festival is held each August in Uptown Normal and features over 50,000 ears of fresh sweet corn, sidewalk sales, arts, crafts and flea market vendors. The festival also serves as a welcome back for students at Illinois State University.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.normal.org/uptown/cornfest.asp |title= Cornfest - Town of Normal, Illinois|website=www.normal.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927031947/http://www.normal.org/uptown/cornfest.asp |archive-date=September 27, 2011}}</ref>

Beginning in 1978 with twenty-one performances on the tennis courts of Ewing Manor, the [[Illinois Shakespeare Festival]] has grown to become an internationally recognized company; now putting on thirty-six performances each season in a state-of-the-art, Elizabethan-style theater.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thefestival.org/about/history.shtml |title=Illinois Shakespeare Festival &#124; About Us &#124; History |publisher=Thefestival.org |date=July 6, 1978 |access-date=July 17, 2012 |archive-date=July 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722041612/http://thefestival.org/about/history.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2009, the Illinois Shakespeare Festival was named one of the ten best theatre festivals anywhere by author Susan Magsamen in her book, "The 10 Best of Everything Families: An Ultimate Guide for Travelers", published by ''[[National Geographic Society|National Geographic]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bloomingtonnormalcvb.org/community-bloomington-normal.cfm |title=Bloomington-Normal Convention And Visitors Bureau – Community – Bloomington-Normal |publisher=Bloomingtonnormalcvb.org |date=May 20, 2012 |access-date=July 17, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120815145644/http://www.bloomingtonnormalcvb.org/community-bloomington-normal.cfm |archive-date=August 15, 2012 }}</ref>

===Historic sites===
[[File:Normal, IL Post Office mural, "Development of the State Normal School" by Albert Pels.jpg|thumb|The WPA mural "Development of the State Normal School", by Albert Pels, is on display in the Normal Post Office.]]
The [[Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's School]], operated from 1865 until 1979, when it was officially closed. The reasons for closure included a rising high per capita cost of care, the deterioration of many campus buildings, and dwindling numbers of children referred by state agencies. Though several of the original structures have been abandoned and left derelict, others have been converted for a number of uses. These include a seniors community, a commercial pool providing swim lessons, and a community football field.

These three locations are listed in the National Register of Historic Places:
* [[Camelback Bridge]]
* [[John W. Cook Hall]]
* [[Normal Theater]]

In December 2010, a [[U.S. Route 66|Route 66]] Wayside Exhibit was installed at the historic [[Sprague's Super Service]] building in Normal. The exhibit tells the story of Route 66's great significance and impact on the community. Visitors are welcome anytime during daylight hours.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wjbc.com/new-route-66-wayside-exhibits-unveiled/ |title=New Route 66 wayside exhibits unveiled |publisher=Wjbc.com |date=December 15, 2010 |access-date=July 17, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308143704/http://wjbc.com/new-route-66-wayside-exhibits-unveiled/ |archive-date=March 8, 2012 }}</ref>