{"nrhp_refnum":"80001426","name":"Eureka College Administration and Chapel","other_names":[],"category":"building","location":{"address":"300 College Ave.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Eureka","county":"Woodford County","state":"IL","lat":40.71408577050005,"lon":-89.26936437057918,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1980-05-31","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Education","Architecture"],"significance_levels":["state"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"Two original buildings of Eureka College in Eureka, Woodford County, Illinois: the brick Administration Building (the original College Building, built 1857-58) and the Chapel (completed 1869 or 1870), both on the 300 College Avenue campus.","why_significant":"The two buildings housed the academic, administrative and social life of Eureka College for its first quarter-century and remain the focal point of the campus. The college was the first in Illinois, and third in the nation among surviving colleges, to admit men and women on equal terms. The Chapel hosted debates, concerts and nationally known speakers, and Ronald Reagan attended classes in both buildings.","narrative":"Eureka College's two oldest buildings sit at the center of its campus in Eureka, Illinois. The Administration Building, built in 1857-58, is a three-story light red brick structure with Italianate roof overhangs, Federal-style tall windows, cast iron lintels and a Georgian-influenced entrance portico. Its front and back elevations match because builders did not know which way the town would grow. The Chapel, finished in 1869 or 1870, is a red brick Italianate building with deep bracketed eaves, segmented-arch windows and two entrance porticos; its architect is unknown. For about twenty-five years these two buildings met all of the college's academic, administrative and social needs. Eureka College, founded by members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), admitted men and women on equal terms, a first in Illinois. The Chapel hosted debates, concerts and speakers including Percy Grainger and Vachel Lindsay, and future president Ronald Reagan attended classes in both buildings. Both remain in daily use.","period_of_significance":"1800-1899","architect_builder":null,"architectural_style":"Italianate with Federal and Georgian influences (Administration Building); Italian Villa/Italianate (Chapel)","criteria":[],"status_note":"Both buildings are described as in constant use, with the Administration Building housing college offices and the Chapel's second floor used for classes and occasional services. The Administration Building's cupola has been removed.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:55:34.496294-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/35/8944/28894435/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_IL/80001426.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/80001426/6b35c30919-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/80001426/6b35c30919-1600.webp","licence":"Public domain","author":"Nyttend","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eureka_College_Administration_Building.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">Nyttend</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eureka_College_Administration_Building.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/28894435","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eureka_College_Administration_Building_and_Chapel","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21187907"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/illinois/woodford-county/eureka-college-administration-and-chapel-80001426/"}