bids were opened by the state board of education in peoria on 7 may 1857. the first proposition on the agenda was from batavia, which offered a subscription of $15,000, with the land and building belonging to the batavia institute, valued at $30,000, making $45,000 in all. washington, in tazewell county, bloomington, and peoria submitted proposals, as well. after considerable discussion, a resolution was adopted locating the new university at bloomington—actually north of town at the village of north bloomington, which was renamed normal in 1865, for the school. illinois state university celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2007.