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Illinois Mid-Century Modern Domes

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Buckminster Fuller Dome
Carbondale, IL
The 40-foot-wide Buckminster Fuller Dome was built in 1960 in just 7 hours with 60 triangular panels. It is often referred to as the Bucky Dome or the Fuller Dome. It was designed by Fuller who lived in the house with his wife until 1971. The building was rented out as student housing for the next 30 years and then fell into disrepair. It was restored from 2001-2021 to the original exterior and interior. For more, see this website. [map]

Assembly Hall
Champaign, IL
The Assembly Hall was designed by Max Abramovitz and opened in 1963. It is locaed on the campus of the University of Illinois and is used for sports, concerts, and University events. The edge-supported dome is 400 feet across. In 2013, the building was renamed the State Farm Center. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Domes
Countryside, IL

The Domes seem to be the former location of Domes America, a dome manufacturer. There are three large domes and one small one, now used by a variety of businesses. [map]

Du Quoin Dental Dome
Du Quoin, IL

The Du Quoin Dental Dome has been here since at least 1992. [map]

Mary Brown Center
East St. Louis, IL

2012:
2024:
The Mary Brown Center dome was built in 1968 in Lincoln Park and is used as a community center. [map]

Fuller Dome
Edwardsville, IL		 Dome
Freeport, IL		 Planetarium
Normal, IL
The Fuller Dome was designed by R. Buckminster Fuller and Shoji Sadao for the Center for Spirituality & Sustainability at Southern Illinois University. It was built in 1971 as a "Geoscope," a miniature transparent earth. For more, see this website. [map]

The Dome in Freeport has been subdivided into a mix of businesses. Does anyone know what was here originally and if it has always had shingles like this? [map]

This Planetarium was built in 1964. It is part of the Felmley Hall of Science Annex at the Illinois State University. [map]

Union Tank Car Company
Wood River, IL
This Union Tank Car Company dome was designed by designed by R. Buckminster Fuller and built in 1961. The first Union Tank Car Company dome in Baton Rouge, LA was built in 1958 and demolished in 2007. [map]