The Lowell Historical Museum began with a Bicentennial Project Grant in 1976, and strong community spirit and effort stretched that seed money. Citizens donated or loaned cherished family heirlooms, donated labor built display cases, and volunteers sorted, arranged, and cataloged items in museum style. David Mathews provided a building. Bicentennial committee members were Elza Tucker, Al Norwood, Freddie and Bernice Rogers, Steven Matthews, Bernice Hight, and Vera Lou Goree Fowler, chairperson. A historical paperback was printed and sold in 1986 as Bloomington-Lowell 1847-1986 • Bits And Pieces • A Sesquicentennial Project, edited and published by Vera Lou Goree Fowler, with research by Elm Tucker, Shirley Gordon, Jo Vantine, and Vera Lou Goree Fowler. Book proceeds paid for the historical marker on Old Wire Road, and J.B. Hunt donated original Bloomington land for the site.