Morrow Plots, University of Illinois
United States historic place in Urbana, Illinois. Added to the National Register in 1968, and a National Historic Landmark.
What it is
The Morrow Plots is an experimental agricultural field at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Named for Professor George E. Morrow, it is the oldest such field in the United States and the second oldest in the world. It was established in 1876 as the first experimental corn field at an American college and continues to be used today, although with three half-acre plots, instead of the original ten. The site was designated a National Historic Landmark on May 23, 1968. The fields are managed by the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The record
| Property type | Site |
| Address | Gregory Dr. at Matthews Ave., Urbana, IL |
| County | Champaign County |
| Listed | May 23, 1968 |
| Listed for | Agriculture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Reference number | 68000024 |
| Type of place | field, laboratory |
| Designations | National Historic Landmark |
| Contributing resources | 1 site |
The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗
Visiting
| Address | Gregory Dr. at Matthews Ave., Urbana, IL |
| Coordinates | 40.1045° N, 88.2259° W · Directions ↗ |
| Also in Urbana | 30 listed places in Urbana → · walking tour → |
| Nearest national park unit | Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument · 78 miles · on Park Atlas |
Explore
Drawings & photographs
Measured drawings and photographs from the Library of Congress. Public domain. All 5 records ↗
Map
Nearby in Champaign County
Local history books for Urbana and Champaign County
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Guidebooks to historic places and travel in Illinois
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
When was Morrow Plots, University of Illinois listed on the National Register?
May 23, 1968. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.
Source: National Park Service
Can I visit Morrow Plots, University of Illinois?
Yes. Morrow Plots, University of Illinois is recorded as open to the public.
Source: Wikidata
Where is Morrow Plots, University of Illinois?
Gregory Dr. at Matthews Ave., Urbana, Champaign County, Illinois. The nearest national park unit is Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument, 78 miles away.
Are there historic photographs or drawings of Morrow Plots, University of Illinois?
Yes. The Historic American Buildings Survey at the Library of Congress has drawings or photographs of it.
Source: Library of Congress
Where is the nomination form for Morrow Plots, University of Illinois?
The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.
Source: National Archives
Is there cell service at Morrow Plots, University of Illinois?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the listed point. Coverage indoors and behind old masonry is another matter.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
Is there a wildfire near Morrow Plots, University of Illinois right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-10-17, nearest Shelbyville State & Wildlife Rx, 44 miles away.
Source: Map
Sources
Location, type and contributing counts come from the National Park Service's National Register spatial data. Listing dates come from the National Register office's spreadsheet where it carries the listing. Construction date, architect, style, photograph and encyclopedia link come from Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, matched on reference number 68000024. Nothing here is transcribed by hand. The nomination form and photographs ↗ at NPGallery are the original nomination as filed with the National Park Service, and the form is often the best description of the place. The description under "What it is" is the opening of the Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA. Drawings and photographs are Historic American Buildings Survey records at the Library of Congress, public domain.