Urbana Audio Tour: Innovators, Icons, and Insights of Champaign County

Above photo: Experiment6, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped & resized.

Hidden beneath the peaceful streets of Urbana lies a world shaped by scientific genius, artistic rebellion, and cosmic intrigue. This self-guided audio tour moves beyond the brochures, revealing campus corners where legends sparked and scandals simmered.

Why did university faculty once clash fiercely over the direction of global science at Beckman Institute? What secret astronomical signals were intercepted behind the locked doors of the Observatory? Who left cryptic messages at the base of the iconic Alma Mater—and why did they vanish overnight?

Wander from majestic sculptures to hushed halls alive with forgotten drama. Navigate between innovation and mystery on a route where protest, invention, and awe collide. Each step uncovers new layers, transforming the familiar landscape into one pulsing with untold stories.

Dare to see Champaign County’s icons in a startling new light. Begin your journey and unlock the secrets hiding in plain sight.

• 
  
• Duration: 1 hour 26 minutes
  
• Distance: Around 3.9 km (2.4 miles)
  
• Audio Content: up to 33min
  
  
• Stops: 13 captivating landmarks including National Center for Supercomputing Applications, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)
  

Experience the charm of Champaign County like never before. Dive deep into tales of yesteryears, marvel at architectural wonders, and feel the pulse of the city as you navigate through its vibrant streets.

• 
  
• Professionally narrated audio stories bringing Champaign County's history to life
  
• Interactive map to guide your journey seamlessly
  
• Opportunities to explore and capture the city's most picturesque spots
  
• Flexibility to start, pause, and resume the tour at your convenience
  

• 
  
• This is a self-guided audio tour on your phone so no in-person guide.
  
• You'll need a smartphone with Android 7.0+ or iOS 16+ (iPhone 8 or later).
  
• You can start the tour at any time (the event time does not matter).
  
• The tour will be available to you forever so you can explore on any day.
  
• Bring headphones and make sure your phone is charged!
  

Once you book the tour, you'll receive an email within 10 minutes containing your unique redemption code and simple instructions to download our app. Enter the code, and you're all set to explore Urbana on your terms.

It doesn't matter which date or time you select, when you redeem the code, the audio tour will be available to you permanently so you can explore on any day.

Whether you're a solo traveler, a couple seeking a romantic escapade, a family on an educational outing, or a group of friends eager for adventure, this tour caters to all. It's perfect for those who value flexibility, rich storytelling, and the freedom to explore without constraints.

AllTours is your ultimate travel companion for immersive audio tours. Discover cities like never before as our app reveals the stories behind the sights. Just plug in your headphones and explore!

With AllTours, you'll experience:

• 
  
• Immersive Experiences: Our digital guides bring landmarks to life with captivating stories and historical insights
  
• Offline Access: Download tours and maps for offline use – perfect for travelers concerned about data usage
  
• Interactive Maps: Navigate effortlessly with our user-friendly interface showing the optimal route
  
• Flexibility: Start, pause, and resume tours whenever you want – explore at your own pace
  
• Multilingual Support: Enjoy tours in your preferred language with our extensive language options
  

AllTours transforms ordinary sightseeing into extraordinary adventures. From iconic landmarks to hidden gems, we help you explore like a local while learning fascinating stories along the way.

You will visit the following locations:

• 🔬  Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology (2min)
• 🔬  Coordinated Science Laboratory (3min)
• 📍  National Center for Supercomputing Applications (3min)
• 📚  Grainger Engineering Library (3min)
• 📍  Altgeld Chimes (4min)
• 🗿  Alma Mater (Illinois sculpture) (4min)
• 🔬  School of Information Sciences (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) (3min)
• 🎨  College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) (2min)
• 📍  St. John's Catholic Newman Center (3min)
• 📚  University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign University Library (3min)
• 🎓  Astronomical Observatory (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) (4min)
• 📍  Morrow Plots (2min)
• 🎨  Krannert Center for the Performing Arts (3min)

Each stop features engaging audio stories that bring the location's history and significance to life.

Above photo: Daderot, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Cropped & resized.

Above photo: Daderot, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Cropped & resized.

Above photo: Beyond My Ken, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped & resized.

Above photo: en:User:Ragib, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5. Cropped & resized.

Above photo: Bkleinf2, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped & resized.

Our tours are available in 30+ languages to ensure you have the best experience:

🇬🇧 English  • 

🇫🇷 French  • 

🇪🇸 Spanish  • 

🇩🇪 German  • 

🇮🇹 Italian  • 

🇵🇹 Portuguese  • 

🇷🇺 Russian  • 

🇯🇵 Japanese  • 

🇨🇳 Chinese  • 

🇳🇱 Dutch  • 

🇧🇷 Portuguese (Brazil)  • 

🇸🇦 Arabic  • 

🇰🇷 Korean  • 

🇸🇪 Swedish  • 

🇩🇰 Danish  • 

🇫🇮 Finnish  • 

🇵🇱 Polish  • 

🇨🇿 Czech  • 

🇭🇺 Hungarian  • 

🇬🇷 Greek  • 

🇹🇷 Turkish  • 

🇮🇳 Hindi  • 

🇦🇱 Albanian  • 

🇪🇹 Amharic  • 

🇦🇲 Armenian  • 

🇧🇩 Bengali  • 

🇧🇦 Bosnian  • 

🇧🇬 Bulgarian  • 

🇲🇲 Burmese  • 

🇪🇸 Catalan  • 

🇭🇷 Croatian  • 

🇪🇪 Estonian  • 

🇬🇪 Georgian  • 

🇮🇳 Gujarati  • 

🇮🇸 Icelandic  • 

🇮🇩 Indonesian  • 

🇮🇳 Kannada  • 

🇰🇿 Kazakh  • 

🇱🇻 Latvian  • 

🇱🇹 Lithuanian  • 

🇲🇰 Macedonian  • 

🇲🇾 Malay  • 

🇮🇳 Malayalam  • 

🇮🇳 Marathi  • 

🇲🇳 Mongolian  • 

🇳🇴 Norwegian  • 

🇮🇷 Persian  • 

🇮🇳 Punjabi  • 

🇷🇴 Romanian  • 

🇷🇸 Serbian  • 

🇸🇰 Slovak  • 

🇸🇮 Slovenian  • 

🇸🇴 Somali  • 

🇰🇪 Swahili  • 

🇵🇭 Tagalog  • 

🇮🇳 Tamil  • 

🇮🇳 Telugu  • 

🇹🇭 Thai  • 

🇺🇦 Ukrainian  • 

🇵🇰 Urdu  • 

🇻🇳 Vietnamese

🎉 Congratulations on reading this far! You've earned yourself a little treat. Use code ILOVEAUDIOTOURS at checkout for 10% off your tour. Because who doesn't love a good discount for being thorough? 😉

Also check out other Arts events in Champaign, Entertainment events in Champaign, Performances in Champaign.