One of the things that stands out to me most about the museum visit was learning about the various groups settling in McLean County in the mid-19th century, and the differences in their lifestyles. Now, we don't have those differences in how/what we farm and eat, or what country we came from. I learned a lot about other historical aspects as well. I believe that it is important to appreciate the history of where you live because it gives you a sense of heritage, allows you to understand the context behind local events, and connects you to the town. I have visited the museum before; some of my friends and I applied to volunteer there some time ago. (We're history geeks.) We also went to watch a Lincoln impersonator give a speech downtown three years ago. That was fun.

Our history is connected to politics because politics are supposed to reflect the sentiments of the citizens, so political maneuverings show how McLean County residents felt. Politics is also tied to history because it allows government to react to current events.

My favorite part of the visit today was definitely the Vietnam War exhibit. The 1960s are one of my favorite eras. Seeing the names of past and present residents who fought in the "conflict" was almost surreal, and I liked reading their quotes - especially one who was a former math teacher of mine! Plus, they were playing '60s music (awesome). The exhibit was a lot more engaging than listening to a lecture about the Vietnam War.