The first university building was built as a seminary by land speculators in 1861 and formed part of the package that induced legislators to locate the university in Urbana. Described by one trustee as looking like "a stake" that "had been driven into the ground", the first building was called "the elephant" bystudents. Classes opened on March 2, 1868 and the inaugural ceremony was held on March 11 complete with the singing of the Regent's university anthem "We hail thee! Great Fountain of learning and light." These two photographs of the University Building show the students lined up in military uniform and . . .