The Burnham Athenaeum, also known as the Champaign Public Library, is a historic library building located at 306 W. Church St. in Champaign, Illinois. Built in 1896 through a donation from Albert C. Burnham, the building was Champaign's first permanent library. Architect Julius A. Schweinfurth designed the Classical Revival building. The two-story building is built from cream-colored brick with terra cotta ornamentation. The front entrance features four two-story Ionic columns supporting a pediment and an inscribed frieze. A terra cotta band encircles the building below the second-story window sill line. The Champaign Public Library occupied the building until 1978, when it moved to a larger facility.[2]

Burnham Athenaeum
Burnham Athenaeum is located in Illinois
Burnham Athenaeum
Burnham Athenaeum is located in the United States
Burnham Athenaeum
Location306 W. Church St., Champaign, Illinois
Coordinates40°7′7″N 88°14′50″W / 40.11861°N 88.24722°W / 40.11861; -88.24722
Area1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built1896 (1896)
ArchitectJulius A. Schweinfurth
Architectural styleClassical Revival
NRHP reference No.78001115[1]
Added to NRHPJune 7, 1978

The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 7, 1978.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ Winay, Nora; Selin, Paul; Olsen, Gary; Olsen, Michele; Wajenberg, Joyce; Dankert, Russell (January 17, 1978). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Burnham Athenaeum" (PDF). National Park Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 19, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2014.