National Historical Recognition
The University of Illinois is hopeful that upon completion of Memorial Stadium’s renovation it will remain eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and for designation as a National Historic Landmark, an honor bestowed upon only 3 percent of the properties listed on the National Register. The stadium’s historical integrity is a primary concern in the renovation process, and great steps are being taken to ensure that the stadium’s historic qualities remain intact for generations of future Illini.
Following the renovation, if the Stadium does earn National Landmark status, then Memorial Stadium will join only four other college football stadiums—Yale, Harvard, the Rose Bowl, and the L.A. Coliseum—that have gained such an esteemed position within the national historical conscience. It is hoped that this distinction, which would be the first of any stadium in the Big Ten Conference, will further establish Illinois’ place in the history of college football.
Questions about National Historical Recognition and Memorial Stadium’s Eligibility
What is the National Register of Historic Places?
The NRHP is the official listing of American cultural resources worthy of preservation. Administered by the National Park Service of the United States Department of the Interior, the NRHP currently has approximately 78,000 listings that are divided into three categories: local, state, or national significance.
What is a National Historic Landmark?
The distinction of National Historic Landmark is the highest level of recognition accorded to historic structures. The Secretary of the Interior personally approves National Historic Landmarks as buildings, sites, districts, structures, and objects that have been determined to be nationally significant in American history and culture. All NHLs are automatically listed in the NRHP; of the 78,000 NRHP listings, only approximately 2,300, or 3 percent, are National Historic Landmarks.
In determining eligibility for national significance as it relates to both NHLs and the NRHP, the following criteria are deemed relevant:
Buildings, structures and objects that possess exceptional value or quality in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the United States in history, architecture, and culture; and that possess a high degree of integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association, and:
- That are associated with the events that have made a significant contribution to, and are identified with, or that outstandingly represents, the broad national patterns of the United States history; or
- That are associated importantly with the lives of persons nationally significant in the history of the United States; or
- That represent some great idea or ideal of the American people; or
- That embody the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type specimen exceptionally valuable for the study of a period, style or method of construction; or
- That collectively compose an entity of exceptional historical significance, or outstandingly commemorate or illustrate a way of life or culture.
How does a building earn designation as a National Historic Landmark or the NRHP?
- Eligible structures are often identified through Theme Studies conducted frequently by the National Park Service that address major aspects of American history.
- Applicants work closely with each State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) and the National Historic Landmarks Survey (one of the historic preservation arms of the NPS) to compile nomination forms and materials.
- For listing in the NRHP: Nominations pass through several stages of approval before finally being approved or rejected by the Keeper of the Register.
- For listing as a NHL: Nominations pass through several stages of approval, including the National Park System Advisory Board, which conducts two meetings a year (Spring/Fall); the Director of the National Park Service; and finally, the Secretary of the Interior.
What is Memorial Stadium’s history relating to earning historical designations?
In the mid-1980s, the National Park Service identified Memorial Stadium as an eligible historic structure through the Recreation Theme Study, which also identified several other historic stadiums, including Chicago’s Soldier Field and Wrigley Field, Boston’s Fenway Park, and Pasadena’s Rose Bowl.
In December 1985, the National Park Service completed Memorial Stadium’s nomination form for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. On June 20, 1986, the University of Illinois was informed that Memorial Stadium had bypassed the NRHP and earned the opportunity to be considered for designation as a National Historic Landmark.
HNTB, the architectural firm hired for the stadium renovation project, commissioned McGuire Igleski & Associates, Inc. (MIA) for an Architectural Survey Report on Memorial Stadium at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. The following report includes excerpts from an assessment of the historic significance and National Register/National Historic Landmark eligibility of the structure:
National Register of Historic Places Significance and Integrity Assessment
Based on our research and evaluation, it is our opinion that the University of Illinois’ Memorial Stadium meets the National Register Criterion for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). It also meets the requirements for National Historic Landmark (NHL) listing. The structure was evaluated and found to meet the requirements under National Register Criteria B and C.
- According to Criterion B, a property may be eligible for the National Register if the property is associated with a person significant to history. By this standard, Memorial Stadium has potential NRHP and NHL status for its association with a leading coach of early college football, Robert C. Zuppke, and for its association with a renowned football player, Harold (Red) Grange.
- Under Criterion C, a property may be eligible for the National Register if the property has distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or if the property represents a work of a master, or is highly artistic. Under this criterion, Memorial Stadium has potential NRHP and NHL status as an important example of the design work of nationally notable architects Holabird & Roche. It is an excellent example of stadium design and of the use of the distinctive characteristics of the Classical Revival style.
National Register of Historic Places Designation
Because Memorial Stadium is state owned and a NRHP-eligible structure, any work must be reviewed per Section 707 (The Illinois State Agency Historic Resources Preservation Act) regulations regardless of National Register designation. Section 707 allows state agencies an opportunity to comment on historic properties eligible for the National Register that may be adversely affected by state-funded projects. Review of work is based upon the same criteria established by the Federal Government
National Historic Landmark Designation
For National Historic Landmark status a property must have “a high degree of historic integrity and potential national significance with relation to some broad facet of American history.” National Historic Landmarks are listed in the National Register of Historic Places and are specially designated as NHL’s because they are important to the entire nation.
If listed as a National Historic Landmark, a bronze plaque stating the national significance of Memorial Stadium will be awarded. With National Historic Landmark status, the condition of the property would be monitored by the National Park Service and submitted in a report to Congress every second year. The National Park Service reviews work on NHLs against the same standards as the state (Secretary of the Interior Standards). For this reason, NHL listing would not additionally restrict any work done to the structure. The National Historic Landmark listing, however, would be an exclusive honor.
Few athletic stadiums have earned National Historic Landmark status. Those that have include the Yale Bowl (New Haven, CT), the Rose Bowl (Pasadena, CA), Soldier Field (Chicago, IL), and Butler Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, IN). These stadiums have had a significant impact on early American sports. Like these, Memorial Stadium follows the trend as an influential sports facility and has made a strong contribution to American history.
Requirements for National Register Listing
- Notify the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (IHPA) of intentions and confirming initial NRHP eligibility.
- Submit a completed nomination form to the IHPA, including maps, photographs and slides, along with any additional information required by the IHPA.
- Because Champaign is a Certified Local Government (CLG), the community has an opportunity to comment on the property for listing. There is an additional 60-day review period for CLGs.
- The nomination form will then be scheduled for the next meeting of the Illinois Historic Sites Advisory Council. This council meets four times each year.
- Once the Council advises to designate the property, the nomination passes to the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO). The SHPO can then nominate it to the National Register.
- The Keeper of the National Register in Washington D.C. has the final authority of approval for the property. If approved, the property is then placed on the National Register.
For more information about the National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks, please visit the following sites:
National Historic Landmarks
National Register of Historic Places
