New BuildWoolly Mammoth Sculpture
Woolly mammoth sculpture at the southwest corner of the Natural History Building
Links
The campus’ newest sculpture is now found in the same place its ancestors wandered 30,000 years prior. A 12-foot-tall creature was installed March 20, 2023, at the southwest corner of the Natural History Building (NHB). The sculpture, commissioned as a part of the State of Illinois’ Art in Architecture program was created by Rantoul-based exhibit design firm Taylor Studios. The NHB was once home to a museum that featured mammoth skeletons before undergoing a major renovation beginning in 2015.
2024 Updates:
The mammoth sculpture finds itself amongst some new additions. The new thoughtfully curated landscape not only enhances the area but offers homage to the mammoth’s past. F&S ironworkers also added a rock beneath the raised mammoth foot.
INSIDER Feature Stories:
Media Coverage:
https://www.wcia.com/news/ui-campus-welcomes-new-unique-statue-in-urbana/
https://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/university-illinois/life-size-woolly-mammoth-soon-to-be-uis-newest-landmark/article_669a6487-eb6a-52b3-85b3-ce17535b2eae.html
https://illinoisnewsroom.org/no-longer-ancient-history-woolly-mammoth-returns-to-university-of-illinois-for-the-first-time-in-over-10000-years/
Mammoth History from the Illinois State Geological Survey:
https://isgs.illinois.edu/node/92
Art in Architecture Program:
https://cdb.illinois.gov/professionalgrowth/art.html