Bloomington Normal Illinois

Bloomington and Normal have grown from small, pioneer settlements into the "Twin Cities" of central Illinois, linked by their proximity and shared history. Surviving and rebuilding after a devastating fire in 1900, the area has continued to grow and prosper. It is home to many businesses, including State Farm, the nation's largest auto and homeowners insurance company. The vintage postcards in this collection feature the delights and difficulties of Bloomington-Normal at the turn-of-the-century. These images capture historic events such as the Street Car Strike of 1917 in which workers took their demands to the streets. The businesses that closed-up shop years ago are opened again through these historic postcards, many of which were originally produced by Bloomington-based postcard publisher C.U. Williams.