Altgeld Hall, University of Illinois - Urbana, IL
Posted by: 
adgorn
N 40° 06.580 W 088° 13.726
16T E 395279 N 4440652
Altgeld Hall was constructed in 1896-1897 and was first used as the University Library. In 1927, Altgeld Hall became the home of the College of Law. The Mathematics Department became the residents of Altgeld Hall in 1956.
Waymark Code: WM440G
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 07/04/2008
Views: 33
Also known as Library Building, and formerly housing the Law School, it is located near the corner of Wright and Green Streets. See also nearby Alma Mater statue - waymark WM43TC.
Funded primarily by Governor John P. Altgeld's support. Designed by Nathan Clifford Ricker, Altgeld Hall is thought of as one of the most impressive Romanesque structures in the Midwest. The building's expertly built central rotunda and the immense bell tower appended to the main structure, as well as the distinctively Romanesque features displayed, make it worthy of this reputation. (from excellent reference at (
visit link) )
The University Chime was installed in the Altgeld Tower in 1920. The chime was the gift of the classes of 1914 through 1921 and the U.S. School of Military Aeronautics.
The interior contains the Mathematics Library, surrounded by four murals painted around the domed ceiling. (fr wikipedia)Newton Alonzo Wells painted the murals at the recommendation of the architects. The four murals were dedicated to the four colleges at the University in 1897. The south mural is "The Sacred Wood of the Muses" dedicated to the College of Literature and Arts. The north mural is "Arcadia" dedicated to the College of Agriculture. The west mural is "The Laboratory of Minerva" dedicated to the College of Science. The east mural is "The Forge of Vulcan" dedicated to the College of Engineering.
The Mathematical Model Collection scattered across display cases throughout Altgeld is perhaps the second greatest of its kind in the world, second only to the Smithsonian's.