Leland Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Leland Tower
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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| Location | Aurora, Illinois, USA |
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| Built | 1928 |
| Part of | Stolp Island Historic District (ID86001487) |
| Added to NRHP | September 10, 1986 |
Leland Tower is a tall, historic building. It has twenty-two stories. You can find it on Stolp Island in Aurora, Illinois. For a while, it was the tallest building in Illinois outside of Chicago. Stolp Island is a special "Historic District." This means it's an important area with old buildings. It is recognized by the National Register of Historic Places.
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About Leland Tower
A Grand Hotel
Leland Tower was first built as a fancy hotel. This big project started in 1926. It was one of the most exciting plans for Aurora at the time. A group called the Aurora Building Corporation announced the hotel. They bought the land where the hotel would stand.
The building work was given to the H.G. Christman Company. They were general contractors from Indiana and Michigan. Anker Sveere Graven and Arthur Guy Mayger were chosen to design the hotel.
Modern Features and Famous Guests
The Aurora-Leland Hotel had all the newest features. Every room had a telephone. At the very top of this skyscraper was the Sky Club. This was a special place for dinner and dancing. It had beautiful decorations and the best furniture.
The Sky Club offered amazing views. It was a very elegant place. Important people from the area loved to visit. Even famous people from Chicago came to the Sky Club. Some well-known guests included Philip K. Wrigley and the singing cowboy Gene Autry. Famous blues musicians also made recordings there. One was John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson.
Changing Times for the Tower
In the 1960s, things changed. The economy was different. The hotel, known by names like "The Aurora-Leland Hotel" and "Leland Hotel," closed down. After that, the tower was used for other things. It held a microwave transmitter for WLXT-TV Channel 60. This was an Aurora TV station that started in 1969. It broadcast during afternoons, evenings, and weekends. The tower also served as the transmitter site for radio station 107.9 WAUR-FM.
Holiday Fun
Leland Tower is also famous in Aurora for its amazing holiday decorations. Each year, they put up a huge shooting star. There is also a giant Christmas tree on the roof. These decorations are eight stories tall!
Images for kids
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View from the West side
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View from the East side
