Old Main, Knox College
Encyclopedia
Old Main at Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois
, is the oldest building on the college campus, and the best preserved site of one of the 1858 senatorial debates between Abraham Lincoln
and Stephen Douglas. It has been designated a National Historic Landmark
by the U.S. Department of the Interior.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1961, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1966.
A campus website describes it proudly: "Old Main is one of the most important pre-Civil War
buildings in the Midwest. Built in the most respected style of the day—Collegiate Gothic—Old Main received high praise upon its completion in 1857 and is still recognized today as a building of architectural distinction. In addition to its status as a National Historic Landmark
, Old Main expresses Knox's ongoing commitment to equal rights, democratic ideals, international excellence, an openness to new and old, and a mission to summon up the best in ourselves, as evidenced in Knox's Original Circular and Plan, which hangs on Old Main's first floor."
Galesburg, Illinois
Galesburg is a city in Knox County, Illinois, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 32,195. It is the county seat of Knox County....
, is the oldest building on the college campus, and the best preserved site of one of the 1858 senatorial debates between Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
and Stephen Douglas. It has been designated a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
by the U.S. Department of the Interior.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1961, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1966.
A campus website describes it proudly: "Old Main is one of the most important pre-Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
buildings in the Midwest. Built in the most respected style of the day—Collegiate Gothic—Old Main received high praise upon its completion in 1857 and is still recognized today as a building of architectural distinction. In addition to its status as a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
, Old Main expresses Knox's ongoing commitment to equal rights, democratic ideals, international excellence, an openness to new and old, and a mission to summon up the best in ourselves, as evidenced in Knox's Original Circular and Plan, which hangs on Old Main's first floor."
Further reading
- R. Lance Factor (2010), Chapel in the Sky: Knox College's Old Main and Its Masonic Architect. University of Northern Illinois Press. ISBN 978-0-87580-415-6