Founded in 1867

Bobby has always told me that one day he would take me there. We left Kristy back in Michigan to start school and drove down the road to Urbana-Champaign, IL to Bobby’s Alma Mater yesterday. Bobby gave me a tour and I felt in awe as he took my hand and led me through what used to be the place he studied. We strolled the walkways, sat underneath a huge shade tree and watched thousands and thousands of students on a high as they prepared for another school year.

I can’t begin to explain the height of joy and wonder I felt so I’m just going to share a few statistics and what pictures I do have.

Here are a few stats of the campus –

• 559 Total buildings on 7.7 square miles (4,938 acres)
• 28,000 undergraduate students this year
• 9,000 graduate and professional students this year
• 4,000 courses and more than 150 fields of study
• 2008 – US News and World Report rated it the # 8 public university.
• College of engineering is ranked 5^th

Alma Mater

The Alma Mater has represented their motto of Learning and Labor since its unveiling in 1929. The figures clasping hands in the background represent learning and labor, and the Alma Mater in the foreground opens her arms and welcomes students with the inscription ‘To thy happy children of the future those of the past send greetings.’

Illini Union

The Illini Union was constructed 1939 – It has many purposes as it includes a 90 room guest hotel (Bobby says we’re going to have to stay there one day), food court, bowling alley, arcade room, pool hall, computer lab, and numerous study lounges. It is a place where students meet and relax, and it brought back so many fond memories for Bobby. He took me on a grand tour of that building, the inside halls were grand and I stood in awe of the massive columns stretching to the high ceiling. Each room was a showcase all of its own and I felt like I was standing on hallowed ground. I was filled to overflowing with amazement, perhaps that’s why I didn’t interrupt the moment to take pictures inside.

Back of Illini Union

Altgeld Hall

Altgeld Hall – Started construction in 1896 and was completed in 1897. It was originally the library and later turned into the Mathematics Building. Bobby took all his math courses here. Altgeld Hall is in the national register of Historic places.

Side View of Altgeld Hall

The University Chime was installed in the Altgeld Tower in 1920.

The Quad

The Quad is the heart of the campus where students relax, study, play Frisbee or hang out. Yesterday was a huge day of activities for the students in the Quad.

The Ceramics Hall

Assembly Hall

Memorial Stadium

Auditorium

Methodist Church

The sun was setting and we both continued to comment on what a delightful day we shared together.

The sun was tucked away for the day and this beautiful trail of light outlined this bridge over the river in Missouri.

And this last picture of the night sky as we approached our destination last evening.