University of Illinois Observatory
Observatory in Urbana, Illinois. Added to the National Register in 1989, and a National Historic Landmark.
What it is
The University of Illinois Astronomical Observatory, located at 901 S. Mathews Avenue in Urbana, Illinois, on the campus of the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, was built in 1896, and was designed by Charles A. Gunn. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 6, 1986, and on December 20, 1989, was designated a National Historic Landmark.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The record
| Property type | Building |
| Address | 901 S. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL |
| County | Champaign County |
| Listed | Dec 20, 1989 |
| Listed for | Engineering, Education, Science |
| Level of significance | National |
| Reference number | 89002466 |
| Type of place | astronomical observatory |
| Designations | National Historic Landmark |
| Contributing resources | 1 building |
| Standing | Yes |
The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗
Visiting
| Address | 901 S. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL |
| Coordinates | 40.1052° N, 88.2262° 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 4 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 University of Illinois Observatory listed on the National Register?
Dec 20, 1989. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.
Source: National Park Service
Can I visit University of Illinois Observatory?
Yes. University of Illinois Observatory is recorded as open to the public.
Source: Wikidata
Where is University of Illinois Observatory?
901 S. Mathews 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 University of Illinois Observatory?
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 University of Illinois Observatory?
The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.
Source: National Archives
Is there cell service at University of Illinois Observatory?
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 University of Illinois Observatory 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 89002466. 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.