Champaign-Urbana Illinois, Roadside Attractions ~ September 2025

With a few hours to spend in Champaign-Urbana, we sought out some highlights, starting with University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana campus. The Alma Mater bronze sculpture stands on the corner of Wright and Green Streets. It was designed by Lorado Taft, dedicated in 1929, and stands 13 feet tall. "Learning" and "Labor" are the two figures behind her.

The Quad features historic signs and a huge sculpture, "Mananaan" standing 26 feet tall. It was created by Alexander Liberman. Mananaan is a god of the sea in Irish mythology.

This Mammoth was installed in 2023 outside of the Natural History Building.

Lincoln Hall has a Lincoln bust in an entryway that was created by Hermon MacNeil in 1928. The University paid $450.00 for it. The nose is shiny because students rub it for good luck 😊 Allegedly, the bust was stolen for a day and found on a golf course.

"Diss-Connections" by John Adduci is located in front of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Building and is intended to highlight the cables used by engineering students.

The Courier Cafe in Urbana has a sweet mural on its wall and some cool graffiti on a building next door. Besides some history, the mural features four favorite sons, two of which attended the University (Novak and Shalit), Ebert who was born in Urbana, and Will who was born in Champaign.

And speaking of Roger Ebert, he has a sculpture in front of the Virginia Theatre in Champaign (203 W. Park Avenue). It was designed by Rick Harney and unveiled in 2014. Ebert passed away in 2013.

We enjoyed some time in Legends where the retired University mascot, Chief Illiniwek, is on display. And other than our hotel view and some cool clouds driving in, our visit was over. Until next time!

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery, 1400 S. Wolf Road, Hillside IL ~ September 2, 2025

There are over 200,000 interments in this 214 acre cemetery and it is particularly notable for holding the remains of notorious gangsters. Our first find was Al Capone, who is buried here with his parents, 6 of his 8 siblings, and a nephew.

Each stone is engraved with "My Jesus Mercy" 😕

One of Capone's associates, Tony Lombardo, was shot and killed on a downtown Chicago street in 1928. 

Frank Nitti (born Nitto) was another trusted Capone associate and he is buried here with both of his wives, Anna (1902-1940) and Annette (1901-1981, married in 1942. Frank committed suicide in 1943 rather than go back to prison.

Sam Giancana (1908-1975) was the head of the Chicago Outfit from 1957-1966 (imprisoned). After serving one year, he moved to Mexico but was deported to the U.S. in 1974. He was murdered in his home in 1975.

This is his Oak Park home where he was killed in his basement (1147 S. Wenonah).

Two bitter rivals of Capone rest nearby. Dean O'Banion (1892-1924) killed by the Chicago Outfit, and Earl "Hymie" Weiss (1898-1926), murdered on a Chicago street.

But there is much more to this cemetery than famous gangsters. The Bishop's Mausoleum was completed in 1912 and it holds the remains of renowned Chicago bishops. Archangel Gabriel stands on top.

St. Francis section.

Mother Cabrini Shrine

Onofrio Taglia (1890-1919) died from the Spanish flu while at his army post in Houston, Texas.

Rev. Vincent Cloos (1903-1985) and his brother Rev. Gregory Michael Cloos (1899-1973) share this mausoleum along with other family members.

In a cemetery dominated by Italian names the Irish names stand out, as did this column. The Clan-Na-Gael was an Irish Republican organization that worked for Irish independence and supported the IRA. An Irish brigade went to South Africa to help fight the British and those that died there are commemorated here.

Marco DiVito (1887-1968) and his wife, Guila (1888-1924) have a two headed gravestone.

Dennis Farina has a very humble gravesite with a sweet message.

I've saved the most unique tombstone for last. This one actually swivels but it's really heavy so take some friends. The DiSalvos, Angelo (1869-1932) and Rosina (1872-1927) had four daughters (one stillborn) and one son. The stillborn daughter is shown as being buried here with her parents as per findagrave. So who are these figures intricately carved here? No one knows for sure but it looks like a mother with her children. You be the judge.

Enter the cemetery from Roosevelt Road or Harrison Street. The Harrison Street sign claims the cemetery was consecrated in 1900.

The Roosevelt Road sign states it was consecrated in 1901. Either way, visit this fascinating cemetery just a short drive from downtown Chicago.