The Monroe County History Center is located in the former Carnegie Library, built in 1918.
Cook Group, a global, privately-owned collection of businesses spanning medical devices, life sciences, business services, property management, and resorts, and CFC Properties, a real estate development and property management company, contributed design and engineering services for the construction of a new wing in 1998.
Gayle Cook, co-founder of Cook Medical, a global medical device manufacturing company, and CFC Properties, helped create the Monroe County Historical Society and served as its first President. She also served on the board for Bloomington Restorations, Inc, a non-profit dedicated to preserving historic architecture and old neighborhoods in Bloomington and Monroe County, and the Monroe County History Center.
Gayle takes an active interest in the annual fundraising garage sale for the history center and provides a venue at Cook Group’s Park 48 location to host its operational activities. She also has a Junior Historian summer program named after her, among other initiatives she has contributed to help strengthen the history center’s presence in Bloomington, Indiana.
