The Most Beautiful Public Building in America Is in This Small Illinois Town—Famous for Its 19th-Century Architecture and Stunning Design

When you encounter a new place, you might easily overlook certain buildings —often, it’s those that aren’t famous, don’t appear in guidebooks, and rarely show up on Instagram that pass us by. From century-old courthouses to quietly exquisite libraries , some structures embody history, craftsmanship, and architectural character that truly deserve recognition. To identify the country’s most underrated civic gems , LovevsDesign.com, experts in custom wallpaper, commissioned a nationwide survey of 3,014 respondents. They asked participants to name which public buildings in their states they consider beautiful but often overlooked. The results revealed a surprisingly wide variety of American design , with two public buildings from Illinois being recognized among the most beautiful in the country. Ranking at 56 is the Jacksonville Public Library (Carnegie Building) in Jacksonville . This historic Carnegie Library exudes a calm, bookish elegance. Modestly scaled yet thoughtfully designed, the building rewards those who take a moment to appreciate its details. The exterior has a welcoming, almost handmade quality that nicely complements Jacksonville. Coming in at 95 is the Champaign County Courthouse in Urbana. This courthouse is a striking example of Romanesque Revival architecture, characterized by its heavy stonework, broad arches, and a prominent clock tower that dominates the skyline. The top 10 underrated civic gems in the U.S. -------------------------------------------- 1. Hot Springs National Park Administration Building, Hot Springs, Arkansas 2. Wailuku Public Library – Wailuku Civic Center Historic District, Wailuku, Hawaii 3. Museum of Art Fort Collins (Former Post Office), Fort Collins, Colorado 4. Old Fayette County Courthouse (Historic Section), Lexington, Kentucky 5. Clark County Courthouse (Historic Building), Vancouver, Washington 6. New Castle Court House Museum, New Castle, Delaware 7. Riverside County Historic Courthouse, Riverside, California 8. Pueblo County Courthouse, Pueblo, Colorado 9. Sarasota County Courthouse, Sarasota, Florida 10. Hilo Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, Hilo Island, Hawaii Source: https://secretchicago.com/2-illinois-public-buildings-voted-among-the-most-beautiful-in-us/