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Mid-Century
Modern Tour
Mid-Century Modern Tour May 23, 2026
This is your chance to not only learn about Mid-Century Modern buildings but to tour them as well, including rare opportunities to see inside private homes.
This day-long special event is brought to you by the Champaign County History Museum, the University of Illinois School of Architecture, and PACA to celebrate local history, architecture, and Preservation Month. Additional support from the Michael Hogue Team at Remax Realty Associates, Furniture Lounge, and Needful Things.
Volunteers are necessary to make this event a success. If you are interested please fill out the form below.
Ticket purchasers will get an email close to May 23rd with details, but plan to pick up your tour passes at the Urbana First Presbyterian Church (602 W Green St), beginning at 10 am. The pass is necessary for admission to the tour stops.
Please note: Passholders agree to assume all risks associated with touring the properties and agree to hold harmless the Champaign County History Museum, the University of Illinois, and the individual property owners for any injury or loss.
If you have questions about the tour or volunteering, please contact Perry Morris at pmorris@champaigncountyhistory.org
Schedule for May 23rd
Morning activities at First Presbyterian Church of Urbana:
10:00 am - Doors open and pass pick-up begins.
10:30 am - Good House Keep dance with Anna Sapozhnikov and Company.
Panel Discussion follows immediately.
1:00 pm to 5:00 pm - Buildings open for touring. Visit in any order you like.
We are lucky to include seven fantastic buildings for this year's open house!
First Presbyterian Church of Urbana,
A. Richard Williams, architect
Stendler-Sheets House, Harry Weese, architect,
additions by Jack Baker and John Replinger
Grice-Stauffer-Mette House,
John Replinger, architect.
Margaret Erlanger House,
Jack Baker, architect
Lane-Malik House,
John Replinger, architect
Bethel AME Church of Champaign,
Laz and Edwards, architects
- The Urbana Civic Center,
Smith, Seaton, and Olach, architects,
will not be open to the public but please stop by! The parking lot is open and this building could use your warm wishes.
Hessel Park Christian Reformed Church, Jack Baker, architect
Photo credits: K. Holliday, S. Malik, and D Williams.
Historic Preservation Wins -- Midcentury Modern and Beyond,
the morning panel discussion, will include:
- Rachel Liebowitz, historic preservation expert, Chicago, Illinois
- Scott Mehaffey, Executive Director, Edith Farnsworth House,
National Trust for Historic Preservation
- Anthony Rubano, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer, State of Illinois
- Kate Holliday, Professor of Historic Preservation and American Architectural History, University of Illinois, moderator
BONUS - in the tradition of Making Place for the Arts at Home Anna Sapozhnikov and Good House Keep will perform at 10:30am at the First Presbyterian Church of Urbana right before the discussion panel
Volunteers are integral to the success of the MCM Tours. We are grateful for your help and appreciate your willingness to give your time to the project!
Volunteers commit to a two-hour shift on the afternoon of Saturday, May 23, 2026. There is also a training session on the evening of Thursday, May 21st. Please note that as plans are refined closer to the tour, some variances may be necessary.
Volunteers will be assigned to a tour stop. Some may greet visitors and check passes at the door while others will watch and make sure visitors don’t wander into off-limits areas.
Volunteers will be given a t-shirt to wear during the tour to identify you as staff and you can keep it as a souvenir. You’ll also receive a pass to visit the other tour stops.
We will contact volunteers via email closer to the tour with more information. We may also send emails in the mean-time.