Altgeld Hall, located at 1409 West Green Street in Urbana, Illinois on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) campus, was built in 1896–97 and was designed by Nathan Ricker and James M. White of the university's architecture department in the Richardsonian Romanesque style.

Based on a suggestion made by Governor Altgeld, the building committee offered the commission to Daniel Burnham, fresh from his success as the organizing architect of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago.

On February 4, 1896, Professors Nathan Ricker and James McLaren White completed the design plans that included construction costs in less than a month.

[4] Construction started on June 10, 1896, only four months after the initial building design was submitted by Ricker and White.

[7] This configuration of bells were cast such that it can play the university fight song “Illinois Loyalty” in the key of D-major.

[10][11] Concerts are performed during special occasions, such as Homecoming Weekend, the University of Illinois Founders Day, and Commencement evening.

Throughout the history of Altgeld Hall, students have circulated various urban legends about the building's contents, due in part to its labyrinthine floor plan.

Despite being removed by the university due to fire safety concerns, the office remained an urban legend over the next several decades, with students and professors replacing its sign and sharing rumors in what was "perhaps the longest-lasting prank in the building’s history.

"[13] Beginning in the 2010s, students have circulated widespread rumors and falsified photographs on social media, particularly Reddit, about the existence of a Dairy Queen ice cream shop inside the building.

[12] This has led some students, especially freshmen, on a wild goose chase to find the nonexistent ice cream shop.