The Stadium Campaign
Memorial Stadium was largely a student-driven effort, launched in 1921, with 6,000 students gathering April 25, 1921 to discuss the proposal being circulated, with more than $700,000 donated that day. Today, despite a recent massive rennovation, the building still looks very much like it did 80 years ago and stands as a memorial to University of Illinois students who lost their lives in World War I.
Proposed Designs
See two of the proposed designs for the stadium that were never realized:
![](https://uihistories.library.illinois.edu/REPOSITORYCACHE/53/n6yhrT7U97FU8Y8061l11t1oQbrAqgZ89Tb5SRApgd5lv4em2z3DGIM2K340Qt0qs1m9wL8RBq370rKUd4bR1F2IaKLT85G9x29zEf9io3R_19602.jpg)
![](https://uihistories.library.illinois.edu/REPOSITORYCACHE/176/4G9ZVyRk6KR1Sc0EXUF1925ufB55xp6xL61Ce31ZN79ZP6bi6U96Yitmt8Kv1g2hz804DGaPv8c30R4j8d3jO5b790z0FyaNUIVHBw4CES_19874.jpg)
The Stadium Drive
Read two of the books describing the stadium drive:
![](https://uihistories.library.illinois.edu/REPOSITORYCACHE/16/y9r8fowxb6317nYgoInphtNNY1zncRBItV4E4rLKYZuZ8GNM0bNiMb07UpYjmgBwh5J5VqOR32jsQl1mi8L21t8vzy135Llbm9h8Jj4PDYu_18759.jpg)
![](https://uihistories.library.illinois.edu/REPOSITORYCACHE/53/S93YB7jhmpR653AKdUo1d1w9YI3q2YnJTPj5ty7kCgSO519TfpOEMXQfA612XavNSb60H53Vh23K5aCNGDQqP2814SMgyrAg4IYSpqA7N8v_18852.jpg)
Dedication
Not invited to the original dedication in 1923? Read the original invite and dedication booklet:
![](https://uihistories.library.illinois.edu/REPOSITORYCACHE/71/y20NydRrZcKXi3q296I0L68xh3Bbye3G0zuRQldO4v9c8exupNZ8O6FPvtU9oVGf65dT5hsUA9HVDZpnn9sELWID5m6Xr3kh4aN84ITI4a87_5795.jpg)
![](https://uihistories.library.illinois.edu/REPOSITORYCACHE/111/4Z35rWI0zvH65ppcAXn83Zzy32HRyGMB408gw64t4ils7u88LDhh1D8wBAvk3iEtiTnlosj4fGw7T5Hu1M7st2mEZ2lR2cM7odoKhCqLdVL_5723.jpg)
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