COOK HALL CASTLE

Cook Hall is a "castle" located on the campus of Illinois State University. It was built in 1897 as a gymnasium and now serves as a practice area for many music students.

Later, I received E-Mail that said:

Cook Hall, often spoke of as The Castle, is the oldest of the Illinois State University buildings still standing. Started in 1895 it was first occupied in the fall of 1898 and called the Gymnasium, because the main purpose of the building was to provide "physical culture" facilities for both men and women students, which President John Cook felt to be a most important phase of education. In 1936, the Class of 1886, on campus to observe its 50th anniversary, renamed the building in honor of John Williston Cook, the University's fourth president, who served during 1890-1899.

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Photo sent in by Allison Haines.