National Register of Historic Places listings in Champaign County, Illinois facts for kids
Have you ever wondered about the old buildings and special places in your town? In Champaign County, Illinois, there are many places that are super important because of their history. These places are listed on something called the National Register of Historic Places. It's like a special list of buildings, areas, and objects across the United States that are worth protecting and remembering.
When a place is on this list, it means it has a unique story to tell. It could be an old house, a cool bridge, a historic school, or even a whole neighborhood! These spots help us learn about the past and understand how our communities grew. Champaign County has over 60 of these amazing historic places. Let's explore some of them!
Cool Historic Places in Champaign County
Historic University Buildings
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is home to many historic buildings. These places have seen generations of students and played a big part in learning and discovery.
Altgeld Hall: A Castle for Learning
Imagine going to school in a building that looks like a castle! That's Altgeld Hall at the University of Illinois. It was built way back in 1897 and is known for its amazing architecture. It has tall towers and beautiful stone work. For a long time, it was the main library, but now it's mostly used for math and music classes. It's a truly grand place to learn!
The University Library: A Giant Book Collection
The University Library is one of the biggest public university libraries in the world! It was added to the National Register in 2000. This huge building holds millions of books, journals, and other learning materials. It's a central spot for students and researchers to find information and study.
Astronomical Observatory: Stargazing History
The University of Illinois Astronomical Observatory is a special place where people have studied the stars for a long time. It was built in 1896 and was added to the National Register in 1986. Imagine looking through a telescope here, just like astronomers did over a hundred years ago! It's a reminder of how much we've learned about space.
Morrow Plots: Farming Through Time
The Morrow Plots are super unique! They are the oldest experimental crop fields in the United States, started in 1876. Farmers and scientists have been studying how to grow crops here for over a century. It's like a living history lesson about agriculture and how we get our food. This important site was added to the National Register in 1968.
Old Homes and Special Buildings
Many historic places in Champaign County are old homes or buildings that once served important purposes.
Cattle Bank: From Money to Museum
The Cattle Bank in Champaign was built in 1857. It's one of the oldest commercial buildings in the area. Can you guess what it was used for? It was a bank, of course! But not just any bank – it helped people buy and sell cattle, which was a big business back then. Today, this cool building is home to the Champaign County Historical Museum, where you can learn even more about local history. It became a historic place in 1975.
Orpheum Theatre: A Place for Shows
The New Orpheum Theatre in Champaign opened in 1914. It was a popular place for people to watch movies and live shows. Imagine dressing up and going to see a performance here a long time ago! It was added to the National Register in 1991.
Virginia Theatre: Still Showing Movies
Another fantastic place for entertainment is the Virginia Theatre, also in Champaign. Built in 1921, this theater is still a busy spot today, showing movies and hosting concerts. It's a great example of how old buildings can still be used and enjoyed. It joined the National Register in 2003.
Vriner's Confectionery: Sweet History
If you love sweets, you might have liked Vriner's Confectionery! This building in Champaign was added to the National Register in 1983. It was a candy shop and soda fountain, a popular place for people to get treats and hang out.
Unique Structures and Districts
Not all historic places are single buildings. Some are bridges, or even whole areas with many important structures.
Hazen Bridge: An Old Iron Bridge
The Hazen Bridge is an old iron bridge located near Mahomet. It was built in 1890 and is a great example of how bridges were made over a hundred years ago. It was added to the National Register in 1994.
Stone Arch Bridge: Part of a Creek Project
The Stone Arch Bridge in Champaign was built in 1890. It's a cool example of an old stone bridge. Today, it's part of a bigger project to improve the Boneyard Creek area, showing how historic structures can be included in new developments. It became a historic place in 1981.
Chanute Air Force Base: A Military History Site
The Chanute Field Historic District in Rantoul was once a very important military base. It was used for training and other air force activities for many years. Even though it's not an active base anymore, the historic district helps us remember its role in national defense. It was added to the National Register in 2006.
Fraternity and Sorority Houses
Many of the historic listings in Champaign County are fraternity and sorority houses, especially around the university. These large, often grand homes were built for student groups and have been part of campus life for decades. Some examples include the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity House, Alpha Delta Pi Sorority House, and Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority House. They show the architectural styles popular when they were built and reflect the history of student organizations.
Images for kids
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Henry Ahrens House
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Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity House
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Alpha Delta Pi Sorority House
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Alpha Gamma Delta Fraternity House
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Alpha Phi Fraternity House
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Alpha Rho Chi Fraternity House
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Alpha Xi Delta Sorority Chapter House
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Bailey-Rugg Building (destroyed by fire in 2008)
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Beta Theta Pi Fraternity House
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Building at 201 North Market Street
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Building at 203-205 North Market Street
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Burnham Athenaeum
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Chemical Laboratory
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Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity House
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Delta Upsilon Fraternity House
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Elm Street Court
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Farm House
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Gamma Phi Beta Sorority House
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The Georgian
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Greek Revival Cottage
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Clark R. Griggs House
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Illinois Traction Building
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Inman Hotel
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Kappa Delta Rho Fraternity House
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Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority House
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Kappa Sigma Fraternity House
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Lincoln (Statue)
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Lincoln Building
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George and Elsie Mattis House
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Metal Shop (demolished 1993)
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Military Drill Hall and Men's Gymnasium
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Natural History Building
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Phi Delta Theta Fraternity House
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Phi Mu Sorority House
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Nathan C. Ricker House
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Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity House
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Tina Weedon Smith Memorial Hall
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Francis and Abbie Solon House
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Frederick Squires House
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U.S. Post Office
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Unitarian Church of Urbana
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University of Illinois Experimental Dairy Farm Historic District
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Urbana-Lincoln Hotel-Lincoln Square Mall
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Warm Air Research House
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Wee Haven
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Women's Gymnasium, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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Women's Residence Hall-West Residence Hall, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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