University of Illinois Experimental Dairy Farm Historic District

The University of Illinois Experimental Dairy Farm Historic District contains eight structures, including three distinctive round barns built from 1908 to 1912 that still stand on the grounds. The buildings showcase different approaches to streamlining milking processes and storing feed for large dairy operations.

The site was established in the early 1900s as a research station where the university tested and refined modern dairy farming methods. Its addition to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994 recognized its role in developing agricultural practices used throughout the region.

The farm served as a meeting point where regional farmers learned and adopted new practices tested on the grounds. The structures themselves reflect a time when agricultural work became increasingly tied to scientific innovation and formal research.

The site is accessible along St. Mary's Road and the buildings can be viewed from outside, with the round barns being the most distinctive features to see. It helps to check in advance whether interior tours are available, as access can vary depending on current conditions.

The Twenty Acre Dairy Barn features a central silo that runs from basement to roof peak, showing how architects creatively used vertical space for storage. This design was a practical solution for maximizing storage capacity within a single structure.