Altgeld Hall

Altgeld Hall is a university building in Urbana featuring Gothic Revival design with Richardsonian Romanesque details throughout its exterior. Inside, it contains a mathematics library with a domed ceiling and a tower holding fifteen bells.

The building was completed in 1897 by architects Nathan Ricker and James White and first served as the university library. It later became home to the Law School in 1927 and has since housed other academic departments.

Four painted ceiling panels in the Mathematics Library show the academic divisions that existed when the university was young. These artworks remain visible today and reflect how the institution was organized during its founding era.

The building houses the Mathematics Department and provides access to its library within. A carillon concert plays from the tower most weekdays at midday, audible from the outdoor spaces nearby.

The structure holds the only gargoyle on the University of Illinois campus, a sculptural feature found nowhere else on the grounds. This architectural detail dates back to the building's original construction in the 1890s.

GPS coordinates: 37.71650,-89.21790

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:14