Burnham Athenaeum
Also known as: Champaign Public Library
Why it's listed
Built in 1896, the Burnham Athenaeum is a two-story neo-classic library on West Side Park in Champaign, Illinois. Albert C. Burnham paid for it so that the city's library, previously kept in two temporary locations, would have a permanent home. Julius A. Schweinfurth, a Boston architect trained with Peabody and Stearns and at the Ecole des Beaux Arts, designed it as one of his first commissions after returning from Europe. The cream-colored brick walls, terra cotta bands, green slate hip roof and pedimented front with four fluted Ionic columns reflect the influence of the Columbian Exposition. The plan was arranged so the librarian at the desk could watch every first-floor room. Alterations in 1970-71 added a vestibule, a fire escape, a suspended ceiling and new partitions, but the original beamed ceiling and exterior remain largely intact. The building is also tied to the park and to the nearby houses of Burnham's banking partners.
Significance in brief: The building was Champaign's first purpose-built public library, a gift of Albert C. Burnham, and an early commission of Boston architect Julius A. Schweinfurth, who appears to have no other work as far west. Its Ionic-columned neo-classic form reflects the influence of the Columbian Exposition. It also forms a group with the park and nearby period houses of Burnham's banking partners.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 78001115, listed June 7, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 306 W. Church St., Champaign |
|---|---|
| County | Champaign County |
| Listed | June 7, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78001115 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Julius A. Schweinfurth |
| Architectural style | Neo-classic |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in good structural condition and little altered; the library was moving to a new building, so the property was unoccupied after 2-3-78 and a court-ordered sale was pending. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 40.11858, -88.24736 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 78001115.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q17986165
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.