National Register of Historic Places

Cook, John W., Hall

Normal, McLean County, Illinois
Listed
February 20, 1986
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
86000268

About this property

John W. Cook Hall, or Cook Hall, is a building that resembles a castle on the Quad of Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. Cook Hall, named for the university's fourth president, has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since the winter of 1986. Cook Hall is one of "Altgeld's castles": it was designed toward the end of the administration of Illinois Governor John Peter Altgeld. Altgeld supported new facilities for Illinois universities and was a German native who favored Gothic Revival architecture. First proposed as a dormitory by Richard Edwards during his presidency at Illinois State University, the building was not approved until 1895. Opened in 1897, design elements for the building were changed, and its overall purpose shifted to that of a gymnasium. The building, called "Gymnasium" also held the University Library. Renamed "John Cook Hall" in 1936, it was eventually converted for other uses as larger gyms were constructed on campus. It currently houses the School of Music.

Location

Normal, McLean County, Illinois
40.50913, -88.99235

Categories

EDUCATIONARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Normal Theater
Industrial
0.3 mi
Sprague's Super Service
Industrial
0.8 mi
Van Leer, Margaret and Bird, Broadview Mansion
Industrial
0.9 mi
Camelback Bridge
Industrial
0.9 mi
Cedar Crest Addition Historic District
Industrial
0.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Cook, John W., Hall listed on the National Register?

Cook, John W., Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 20, 1986.

What type of historic resource is Cook, John W., Hall?

Cook, John W., Hall is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Cook, John W., Hall?

The period of significance for Cook, John W., Hall is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Cook, John W., Hall?

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