Urbana Illinois University Of Illinois The West Tower 1913 Real Photo Postcard
The West Tower is a distinctive element of Altgeld Hall at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Completed in 1897, Altgeld Hall was originally known as the Library Building, serving as the university's main library. Its Richardsonian Romanesque architecture, designed by Nathan Clifford Ricker and James M. White, was typical of grand university buildings constructed in the late 19th century, signifying academic progress and institutional permanence.
The construction of such elaborate structures reflected a period of significant growth and investment in higher education across the United States. The building was renamed in 1910 to honor Governor John Peter Altgeld, who was instrumental in securing the necessary funding for its construction. The West Tower, with its prominent clock, remains a historical landmark and a functional part of the university, housing bells and contributing to the campus's architectural heritage.
The construction of such elaborate structures reflected a period of significant growth and investment in higher education across the United States. The building was renamed in 1910 to honor Governor John Peter Altgeld, who was instrumental in securing the necessary funding for its construction. The West Tower, with its prominent clock, remains a historical landmark and a functional part of the university, housing bells and contributing to the campus's architectural heritage.
