Old Main

Old Main refers to a collection of distinctive castle-like structures located across five public universities in Illinois, collectively known as "Altgeld's Castles." Commissioned between 1893 and 1897 under the initiative of Governor John Peter Altgeld, these buildings were constructed in the Gothic Revival style, specifically the Tudor-Gothic variant advocated by the Governor. Altgeld believed that state buildings should be aesthetically pleasing as well as functional, arguing that this architectural approach was the most cost-effective method to achieve beauty. While the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign structure notably deviated toward a Richardsonian Romanesque style due to political pressure, the majority of these edifices stand as enduring testaments to Altgeld's vision for higher education infrastructure in the late nineteenth century.

Historically significant for their unique origins, these buildings have sparked local folklore suggesting their corridors and rooms were intentionally aligned to eventually merge into one massive complex, though no evidence supports this rumor. Specific iterations, such as the Altgeld Hall at Southern Illinois University Carbondale built in 1896, originally housed libraries, science laboratories, and gymnasiums before being repurposed over time. Today, many of these historic halls serve new academic functions; for instance, the Carbondale location currently houses the School of Music following major renovations in the mid-twentieth and early twenty-first centuries designed to preserve the masonry from weather damage.

These structures remain vital landmarks on their respective campuses, symbolizing a pivotal era in Illinois educational history. Despite some modifications and restorations required to maintain their integrity against the elements, they continue to operate as active university facilities rather than mere monuments. Their continued use highlights the success of Altgeld's directive to combine utility with grandeur, ensuring that these castle-inspired buildings remain central to student life and academic tradition more than a century after their completion.