Center Street in Bloomington was the site of the first brick pavement in the United States, an innovation that contributed to the development of modern highways. It was installed in 1877 by Napoleon B. Heafer. A plaque was set in an original paving brick and presented to the City of Bloomington on May 11, 1968, by Bloomington Junior High School students as part of their participation in the Illinois sesquicentennial observance.