NUVEEN TAX EXEMPT UNIT TRUST SERIES 810
S-6EL24, 1995-06-01
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<PAGE>
                                                      40 ACT FILE NO. 811-2271


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                                Washington, D.C.  20549

                                    FORM S-6

For Registration under the Securities Act of 1933 of Securities of Unit
Investment Trusts Registered on Form N-8B-2.

A.  Exact Name of Trust:     NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST, SERIES 810

B.  Name of Depositor:       JOHN NUVEEN & CO. INCORPORATED

C.  Complete address of Depositor's principal executive offices:

                             333 West Wacker Drive
                            Chicago, Illinois  60606

D.  Name and complete address of agents for service:

                         JOHN NUVEEN & CO. INCORPORATED
                            Attn:  James J. Wesolowski
                             333 West Wacker Drive
                            Chicago, Illinois  60606


                                CHAPMAN AND CUTLER
                           Attn:  Eric F. Fess
                             111 West Monroe Street
                            Chicago, Illinois  60603

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)

_____
_____  immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)

_____
_____  on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b) of rule 485

_____
_____  60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)

_____
_____  on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a) of rule (485 or 486)

E.  Title and amount of securities being registered:  An indefinite number of
Units pursuant to Rule 24f-2 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended.

F.  Proposed maximum offering price to the public of the securities being
registered:  Indefinite

G.  Amount of filing fee:  $500 (as required by Rule 24f-2)

H.  Approximate date of proposed sale to the public:

                  As soon as practicable after the effective
                      date of the registration statement

- -----       Check box if it is proposed that this filing will become effective
- -----       on (Date) at (Time) pursuant to Rule 487.


______________________________________________________________________________

    The registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or
dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant 
shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this 
Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with 
Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration 
Statement  shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting 
pursuant to said  Section 8(a) may determine.



<PAGE>
   
                                  MAY 31, 1995
                             SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
 
NUVEEN  Tax-Exempt Unit Trusts
             PROSPECTUS
            Series 805
             May 31, 1995
    
INTEREST  INCOME TO THE  TRUSTS AND TO  UNITHOLDERS, IN THE  OPINION OF COUNSEL,
UNDER EXISTING LAW IS EXEMPT FROM FEDERAL INCOME TAX. CAPITAL GAINS, IF ANY, ARE
SUBJECT TO TAX. IN ADDITION, INTEREST INCOME OF STATE TRUSTS IS, IN THE  OPINION
OF  COUNSEL,  EXEMPT,  TO THE  EXTENT  INDICATED,  FROM STATE  AND  LOCAL TAXES.
INTEREST INCOME OF ANY TRUST  OTHER THAN A STATE TRUST  MAY BE SUBJECT TO  STATE
AND LOCAL TAXES.
 
CURRENTLY  OFFERED AT PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE PLUS INTEREST ACCRUED TO THE DATE OF
SETTLEMENT. MINIMUM PURCHASE--EITHER $5,000 OR 50 UNITS, WHICHEVER IS LESS.
 
   
THE NUVEEN  TAX-EXEMPT  UNIT TRUST,  SERIES  805 consists  of  three  underlying
separate  unit investment trusts  designated as Maryland  Traditional Trust 307,
North Carolina Traditional Trust 289 and New York Insured Trust 236. Each  Trust
initially  consists  of delivery  statements relating  to contracts  to purchase
Bonds and, thereafter, will  consist of a  diversified portfolio of  obligations
issued  by  or on  behalf of  states and  territories of  the United  States and
authorities and political subdivisions  thereof (see SCHEDULES OF  INVESTMENTS),
the  interest on which is, in the opinion of bond counsel to the issuers, exempt
from Federal income tax under existing  law. In addition, the interest on  Bonds
in  each State Trust  is, in the opinion  of bond counsel to  the issuers of the
obligations, exempt from such State's income  taxes, if any. All obligations  in
each  Traditional Trust are  rated in the  category "A" or  better by Standard &
Poor's Corporation or Moody's  Investors Service, Inc. on  the Date of  Deposit.
All  obligations  in each  Insured Trust  are covered  by policies  of insurance
obtained from the MBIA Insurance  Corporation guaranteeing payment of  principal
and  interest when due. All such policies  of insurance remain effective so long
as the obligations are outstanding. As a result of such insurance, the Bonds  in
each  portfolio of the Insured Trusts have received a rating of "Aaa" by Moody's
Investors Service, Inc. and  the Bonds in  the Insured Trusts  and the Units  of
each  such  Trust  have  received  a  rating  of  "AAA"  by  Standard  &  Poor's
Corporation. INSURANCE RELATES ONLY TO THE  BONDS IN THE INSURED TRUSTS AND  NOT
TO THE UNITS OFFERED HEREBY OR TO THEIR MARKET VALUE. (See Section 5.)
    
 
THE  OBJECTIVES of the Trusts are  tax-exempt income and conservation of capital
through a diversified  investment in tax-exempt  Bonds. (SEE SECTIONS  2, 3  AND
11.)  The payment of interest and the  preservation of principal are, of course,
dependent upon the continuing ability of the issuers of Bonds and of any insurer
thereof to meet  their obligations thereunder.  There is no  guarantee that  the
Trusts' objectives will be achieved. (SEE PAGE A-1.)
 
DISTRIBUTIONS  of interest  received by  each Trust  will be  made semi-annually
unless the Unitholder elects to receive them monthly or quarterly. (SEE  SECTION
13.)  Distribution of funds in the Principal Account, if any, will ordinarily be
made semi-annually.
 
FOR ESTIMATED LONG TERM RETURNS AND ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURNS to Unitholders  in
each  Trust on the  business day prior to  the Date of Deposit.  (SEE PAGE 3 AND
SECTION 9.)
THE PUBLIC OFFERING  PRICE per Unit  of each Trust  during the initial  offering
period  is equal to a pro rata share of the OFFERING prices of the Bonds in such
Trust's portfolio plus  a sales charge  of up  to 4.90% of  the Public  Offering
Price  (equivalent to 5.152%  of the net  amount invested); the  sales charge is
somewhat lower on Trusts  with lesser average maturities.  (SEE SECTION 6.)  The
Secondary  Market Public Offering Price per Unit for each Trust will be equal to
a pro rata share of the  sum of BID prices of the  Bonds in such Trust plus  the
sales  charges determined based on the number of years remaining to the maturity
of each  Bond. Accrued  interest from  the  preceding Record  Date to,  but  not
including,  the settlement date (normally five  business days after purchase) is
added to the Public Offering Price. The  sales charge is reduced on a  graduated
scale  for sales involving at least $50,000 or  500 Units and will be applied on
whichever basis is more favorable to the purchaser. (SEE SECTION 6.)
 
A UNITHOLDER MAY REDEEM UNITS at the office of the Trustee, United States  Trust
Company of New York, at prices based upon the BID prices of the Bonds. The price
received  upon  redemption  may  be  more  or  less  than  the  amount  paid  by
Unitholders, depending upon the  value of the  Bonds on the  date of tender  for
redemption.  (SEE  SECTION 19.)  The Sponsor,  although not  required to  do so,
intends to make a secondary market for  the Units of the Trusts at prices  based
upon  the BID  prices of the  Bonds in  the respective Trusts.  (SEE SECTION 7.)
RETAIN THIS PROSPECTUS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
 
UNITS OF THE TRUST ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR GUARANTEED OR ENDORSED
BY, ANY BANK AND ARE NOT FEDERALLY INSURED OR OTHERWISE PROTECTED BY THE FEDERAL
DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD OR ANY OTHER AGENCY AND
INVOLVE INVESTMENT RISK, INCLUDING THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF PRINCIPAL.
 
THESE SECURITIES HAVE  NOT BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED BY  THE SECURITIES  AND
EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR ANY  STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION  NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR  ANY  STATE SECURITIES  COMMISSION PASSED  UPON  THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
<PAGE>
  NUVEEN  Tax-Exempt Unit Trusts
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
      INDEX                                             SECTION         PAGE
<C>   <S>                                              <C>        <C>
      SPECIFIC TRUST MATTERS
      Maryland Traditional Trust 307                          3         8-14
      North Carolina Traditional Trust 289                    3        15-20
      New York Insured Trust 236                              3        21-34
      GENERAL MATTERS
      Accrued Interest                                        8         A-17
      Accumulation Plan                                      14         A-25
      Bonds, How Selected                                     3            7
      Bonds, Initial Determination of Offering Price         10         A-19
      Bonds, Limited Right of Substitution                    4          A-7
      Bond Ratings                                            3         8-34
      Bonds, Removal from Trust                              21         A-34
      Call Provisions of Portfolio Bonds                   3, 4     8-34,A-8
      Capital Gains Taxability                               11         A-20
      Dealer Discount                                        17         A-29
      Description of Units of Trust                           1            5
      Distributions to Unitholders                           13         A-24
      Distribution Payment Dates                          3, 13   8-34, A-24
      Distribution of Units to the Public                    17         A-29
      Essential Information Regarding the Trusts             --            4
      Estimated Long Term Return and Estimated Current
      Return                                                  9      3, A-18
      Evaluation                                             16         A-29
      Expenses to Fund                                       12         A-23
      Insurance on Bonds in the Insured Trusts                5         A-10
      Insurance on Certain Bonds in the Traditional
      Trusts                                                  5         A-12
      Interest Income to Trust                                3         8-34
      Investments, Schedules of                               3         8-34
      Legality of Units                                      24         A-38
      Limitations on Liabilities of Sponsor and Trustee       22        A-35
      Market for Units                                        7         A-17
      Minimum Transaction                                    17         A-31
      Objectives of the Trusts                                2            6
      Optional Distribution Plan                             13         A-24
      Other Information                                      24         A-37
      Ownership and Transfer of Units                        18         A-31
      Public Offering Price of Units                          6         A-13
      Quantity Purchases                                      6         A-13
      Record Dates                                           13         A-24
      Ratings, Description of                                24         A-39
      Redemption of Units by Trustee                         19    A-32,A-34
      Reports to Unitholders                                 15         A-28
      Repurchase of Units by Sponsor                         20         A-33
      Risk Factors                                            3          A-1
      Sales Charge                                            6         A-13
      Sponsor, Information About                             23         A-36
      State Tax Status                                        3         8-34
      Successor Trustees and Sponsors                        22         A-35
      Tax Status of Unitholders                              11         A-19
      Trustee, Information About                             22         A-35
      Trust Indenture, Amendment and Termination             24         A-37
      Unit Value                                             16         A-29
</TABLE>
    
 
                  2
<PAGE>
                          ESTIMATED LONG TERM RETURNS
                                      AND
                    ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURNS FOR THE TRUSTS
 
Following  are the  Estimated Long Term  and Estimated Current  Returns for each
Trust on the  business day  prior to  the Date  of Deposit,  under the  monthly,
quarterly and semi-annual plans of distribution (SEE SECTION 3):
 
                          ESTIMATED LONG TERM RETURNS
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
                                                ----------------------------------------
                    TRUST                       MONTHLY      QUARTERLY      SEMI-ANNUAL
  <S>                                           <C>          <C>            <C>
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Maryland Traditional Trust 307...........      5.19%         5.23%           5.25%
  North Carolina Traditional Trust 289.....      5.14%         5.16%           5.18%
  New York Insured Trust 236...............      5.31%         5.35%           5.36%
</TABLE>
    
 
                           ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURNS
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
                                                ----------------------------------------
                    TRUST                       MONTHLY      QUARTERLY      SEMI-ANNUAL
  <S>                                           <C>          <C>            <C>
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Maryland Traditional Trust 307...........      5.09%         5.12%           5.14%
  North Carolina Traditional Trust 289.....      5.01%         5.05%           5.06%
  New York Insured Trust 236...............      5.18%         5.21%           5.23%
</TABLE>
    
 
    The  Estimated Long Term Return for each Trust is a measure of the return to
the investor earned  over the estimated  life of the  Trust. The Estimated  Long
Term  Return represents an  average of the  yields to maturity  (or call) of the
Bonds in  the Trust's  portfolio  calculated in  accordance with  accepted  bond
practice and adjusted to reflect expenses and sales charges. Under accepted bond
practice,  tax-exempt bonds  are customarily  offered to  investors on  a "yield
price" basis, which involves computation of  yield to maturity or to an  earlier
call date (whichever produces the lower yield), and which takes into account not
only the interest payable on the bonds but also the amortization or accretion to
a  specified date of any premium over  or discount from the par (maturity) value
in the bond's  purchase price. In  calculating Estimated Long  Term Return,  the
average  yield for  the Trust's  portfolio is  derived by  weighting each Bond's
yield by the market value of the Bond and by the amount of time remaining to the
date to which the Bond is priced. Once the average portfolio yield is  computed,
this  figure is then reduced to reflect estimated expenses and the effect of the
maximum sales  charge paid  by investors.  The Estimated  Long Term  Return  and
Estimated  Current Return calculations do not take  into account the effect of a
first distribution which may be less than a regular distribution or may be  paid
at  some point after 30 days (or a  second distribution which may be less than a
normal distribution for Unitholders who choose quarterly or semi-annual plans of
distribution), and it also does not  take into account the difference in  timing
of  payments  to  Unitholders  who  choose  quarterly  or  semi-annual  plans of
distribution, each of which will reduce the return.
 
    Estimated Current Return  is computed  by dividing the  Net Annual  Interest
Income per Unit by the Public Offering Price. In contrast to Estimated Long Term
Return, Estimated Current Return does not reflect the amortization of premium or
accretion of discount, if any, on the Bonds in the Trust's portfolio. Net Annual
Interest Income per Unit is calculated by dividing the annual interest income to
the Trust, less estimated expenses, by the number of Units outstanding.
 
    Net  Annual Interest  Income per Unit,  used to  calculate Estimated Current
Return, will vary  with changes  in fees  and expenses  of the  Trustee and  the
Evaluator  and with the redemption, maturity, exchange or sale of Bonds. A Trust
may experience expenses and  portfolio changes different  from those assumed  in
the  calculation of Estimated Long  Term Return. There thus  can be no assurance
that the Estimated  Current Returns or  the Estimated Long  Term Returns  quoted
herein will be realized in the future. Both the Estimated Current Return and the
Estimated  Long Term Return quoted  herein are based on  the market value of the
underlying Bonds on the  business day prior to  the Date of Deposit;  subsequent
calculations  of these performance measures will reflect the then current market
value of the underlying Bonds and may be higher or lower. For more  information,
see Section 9. The Sponsor will provide estimated cash flow information relating
to  a Trust without  charge to each  potential investor in  a Trust who receives
this prospectus and makes  an oral or  written request to  the Sponsor for  such
information.
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
   
                 ESSENTIAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE TRUSTS ON
                                 MAY 30, 1995+
    
           Sponsor and Evaluator...... John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
           Trustee........... United States Trust Company of New York
                  -------------------------------------------
 
The  income, expense and distribution data  set forth below have been calculated
for  Unitholders   receiving   MONTHLY   distributions.   Unitholders   choosing
distributions  quarterly or  semi-annually will receive  slightly higher returns
because of the lower Trustee's fees and expenses under such plans. (SEE  SECTION
3 FOR DATA RELATING TO THESE PLANS.)
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       MARYLAND         NORTH CAROLINA         NEW YORK
                                                      TRADITIONAL         TRADITIONAL           INSURED
                                                       TRUST 307           TRUST 289           TRUST 236
<S>                                                 <C>                 <C>                 <C>
                                                    ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
Principal Amount of Bonds in Trust................  $    3,500,000      $    3,500,000      $    4,000,000
Number of Units...................................          35,000              35,000              40,000
Fractional Undivided Interest in Trust Per Unit...        1/35,000            1/35,000            1/40,000
Public Offering Price--Less than 500 Units
    Aggregate Offering Price of Bonds in Trust....  $    3,331,385      $    3,392,923      $    3,758,213
    Divided by Number of Units....................  $        95.18      $        96.94      $        93.96
    Plus Sales Charge*............................  $         4.90      $         4.99      $         4.84
    Public Offering Price Per Unit(1).............  $       100.08      $       101.93      $        98.80
Redemption Price Per Unit (exclusive of accrued
  interest).......................................  $        94.72      $        96.49      $        93.47
Sponsor's Initial Repurchase Price Per Unit
  (exclusive of accrued interest).................  $        95.18      $        96.94      $        93.96
Excess of Public Offering Price Per Unit over
  Redemption Price Per Unit.......................  $         5.36      $         5.44      $         5.33
Excess of Public Offering Price Per Unit over
  Sponsor's Repurchase Price Per Unit.............  $         4.90      $         4.99      $         4.84
Calculation of Estimated Net Annual Interest
  Income Per Unit
    Annual Interest Income(2).....................  $       5.3036      $       5.3234      $       5.3359
    Less Estimated Annual Expense.................  $        .2099      $        .2139      $        .2157
                                                    ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
    Estimated Net Annual Interest Income(3).......  $       5.0937      $       5.1095      $       5.1202
Daily Rate of Accrual Per Unit....................  $       .01414      $       .01419      $       .01422
Estimated Current Return(4).......................           5.09%               5.01%               5.18%
Estimated Long Term Return(4).....................           5.19%               5.14%               5.31%
BECAUSE  CERTAIN OF THE BONDS IN THE TRUSTS WILL NOT BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE UNTIL AFTER THE SETTLEMENT
DATE FOR A PURCHASE OF UNITS MADE ON THE DATE OF DEPOSIT, INTEREST THAT ACCRUES ON THOSE BONDS BETWEEN  THE
DATE  OF DEPOSIT AND SUCH DELIVERY DATE WILL BE TREATED  AS A RETURN OF PRINCIPAL RATHER THAN AS TAX-EXEMPT
INCOME. THE AMOUNT OF  ANY SUCH RETURN  OF PRINCIPAL IS NOT  INCLUDED IN THE  ANNUAL INTEREST INCOME  SHOWN
ABOVE. FOR THE VARIOUS TRUSTS, THE FOLLOWING SETS FORTH THE LATEST SCHEDULED BOND DELIVERY DATE, THE AMOUNT
PER  UNIT THAT WILL BE TREATED AS A RETURN OF PRINCIPAL TO UNITHOLDERS WHO PURCHASE ON THE DATE OF DEPOSIT,
AND THE ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN AFTER THE FIRST YEAR, ASSUMING THE PORTFOLIO AND ESTIMATED ANNUAL EXPENSES
DO NOT VARY FROM THAT SET FORTH ABOVE (SEE SECTIONS 3 AND 12 AND THE "SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS"):
                                   LATEST SCHEDULED         PER UNIT         ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
                                    DELIVERY DATE     RETURN OF PRINCIPAL      AFTER THE FIRST YEAR
                                  ------------------  --------------------   -------------------------
  NORTH CAROLINA TRADITIONAL
  TRUST.........................    JUNE 19, 1995     $           .03                     5.05        %
 
<FN>
- ----------
Evaluations for purpose of sale,  purchase or redemption of  Units are made as of  4 p.m. Eastern time  on the business day  next
following receipt of an order by the Sponsor or Trustee. (See Section 6.)
 + The business day prior to the Date of Deposit.
 *  National and State, 5.152%; Long  Intermediate, 4.439%; Intermediate, 4.058%; Short  Intermediate, 3.093%; Short Term, 2.564%
   (4.9%, 4.25%, 3.9%, 3.0% and 2.5% of the Public Offering Prices, respectively.)
(1) Units are offered at the Public  Offering Price plus accrued interest from the  preceding Record Date to, but not  including,
    the  date of settlement (normally five business days after purchase). The  Date of Deposit of the Fund has been designated as
    the First Record  Date for all  plans of distribution  of the Trusts  and, accordingly, for  Units purchased on  the Date  of
    Deposit,  the following  amounts of accrued  interest to  the Settlement Date  will be  added to the  Public Offering Prices:
    Maryland Traditional Trust--$.08, North Carolina Traditional Trust--$.09 and New York Insured Trust--$.09. (See Section 8.)
(2) Assumes delivery of  all Bonds. (See Section  4.) Interest income does  not include accretion of  original issue discount  on
    "zero coupon" Bonds, Stripped Obligations or other original issue discount Bonds. (See "General Trust Information" in Section
    3.)
(3)  The amount and timing of interest distributions from each Trust under the various plans of distribution are shown in Section
    3.
(4) Estimated Long Term Return  for each Trust represents  the average of the yields  to maturity (or call)  of the Bonds in  the
    Trust's  portfolio calculated in accordance with accepted bond practices  and adjusted to reflect expenses and sales charges.
    Estimated Current Return is computed by dividing the Net Annual Interest Income per Unit by the Public Offering Price, and in
    contrast to Estimated Long Term  Return does not reflect the  amortization of premium or accretion  of discount, if any.  For
    more information see page 3 and Section 9.
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
                   ESSENTIAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE TRUSTS
                                  (CONTINUED)
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                         <C>
Record Dates............................................................See Section 13
Distribution Dates......................................................See Section 13
Minimum Principal Distribution..........................................$0.10 Per Unit
Date Trusts Established...................................................May 31, 1995
Settlement Date...........................................................June 7, 1995
Mandatory Termination Date..............................................See Section 24
Minimum Value of Each Trust.............................................See Section 24
Sponsor's Annual Evaluation Fee.............$0.17 per $1,000 principal amount of Bonds
Trustee's Annual Fees:
</TABLE>
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
                                                ----------------------------------------------
                    TRUST                         MONTHLY         QUARTERLY       SEMI-ANNUAL
  -----------------------------------------     ------------     ------------     ------------
  <S>                                           <C>              <C>              <C>
  Maryland Traditional Trust 307...........          $1.5243          $1.2043         $1.0143
  North Carolina Traditional Trust 289.....           1.5643           1.2443          1.0543
  New York Insured Trust 236...............           1.6117           1.2917          1.1017
  ------------
  *  Each Trustee annual fee is per $1,000 principal amount of the underlying Bonds in a Trust
    for that portion of the Trust that represents a particular plan of distribution.
</TABLE>
    
 
CUSIP Numbers:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                    TRUST                         MONTHLY         QUARTERLY       SEMI-ANNUAL
  -----------------------------------------     ------------     ------------     ------------
  <S>                                           <C>              <C>              <C>
  Maryland Traditional Trust 307...........       67102E 139       67102E 147      67102E 154
  North Carolina Traditional Trust 289.....       6710A2 375       6710A2 383      6710A2 391
  New York Insured Trust 236...............       67101K 375       67101K 383      67101K 391
</TABLE>
    
 
                            ------------------------
 
THE NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST
   
SERIES 805
    
 
   
1.  WHAT IS THE NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST, SERIES 805?
    
 
   
Series 805 of the Nuveen  Tax-Exempt Unit Trust is one  of a series of  separate
but  similar  investment companies  created  by the  Sponsor,  each of  which is
designated  by  a  different  Series  number.  This  Series  consists  of  three
underlying  separate unit investment trusts,  combined under one trust indenture
and  agreement,  designated  Maryland  Traditional  Trust  307,  North  Carolina
Traditional  Trust 289 and  New York Insured  Trust 236. The  various trusts are
collectively referred to herein as the "Trusts"; the trusts in which few or none
of the Bonds are insured are sometimes referred to as the "Traditional  Trusts",
the  trusts  in which  all  of the  Bonds are  insured  as described  herein are
sometimes referred  to as  the  "Insured Trusts",  and  the state  trusts  (both
Traditional  and Insured) are sometimes referred  to as the "State Trusts." This
Series was created under the laws of the  State of New York pursuant to a  Trust
Indenture and Agreement dated May 31, 1995 (the "Indenture") between John Nuveen
&  Co. Incorporated (the "Sponsor") and United  States Trust Company of New York
(the "Trustee").
    
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
   
    The Sponsor has deposited with  the Trustee delivery statements relating  to
contracts  for the  purchase of municipal  debt obligations  together with funds
represented by an irrevocable letter of credit issued by a major commercial bank
in the amount, including accrued interest,  required for their purchase (or  the
obligations  themselves) in the  principal amount of  $11,000,000 (the "Bonds"),
which initially constitute the  underlying securities of  the Trusts. Bonds  may
include  fixed rate obligations with regularly scheduled interest payments, zero
coupon bonds and  stripped obligations, which  represent evidences of  ownership
interests with respect to either a principal payment or a payment of interest on
a  tax-exempt obligation  ("Stripped Obligations"). See  "SUMMARY OF PORTFOLIOS"
and "GENERAL  TRUST INFORMATION"  for  a discussion  of  zero coupon  bonds  and
Stripped  Obligations. The  following principal  amounts were  deposited in each
Trust: $3,500,000 in  the Maryland  Traditional Trust, $3,500,000  in the  North
Carolina Traditional Trust and $4,000,000 in the New York Insured Trust. Some of
the  delivery  statements may  relate  to contracts  for  the purchase  of "when
issued" or other Bonds with  delivery dates after the  date of settlement for  a
purchase  made on the  Date of Deposit.  See the "Schedules  of Investments" and
Section 4. For  a discussion  of the  Sponsor's obligations  in the  event of  a
failure  of any contract  for the purchase of  any of the  Bonds and its limited
right to substitute other bonds to replace any failed contract, see Section 4.
    
 
    Payment of interest on the Bonds in each Insured Trust, and of principal  at
maturity,  is guaranteed under policies of  insurance obtained by the Sponsor or
by the issuers of the Bonds. (See  Section 5.) AS A GENERAL MATTER, NEITHER  THE
ISSUER  NOR THE SPONSOR HAS OBTAINED INSURANCE  WITH RESPECT TO THE BONDS IN ANY
TRADITIONAL TRUST.
 
   
    The Trustee has delivered to the  Sponsor registered Units for 35,000  Units
of   the  Maryland  Traditional  Trust,  35,000  Units  of  the  North  Carolina
Traditional Trust and 40,000 Units of the New York Insured Trust, which together
represent ownership of the entire Series, and which are offered for sale by this
Prospectus. Each Unit of a Trust  represents a fractional undivided interest  in
the  principal and net  income of such Trust  in the ratio of  10 Units for each
$1,000 principal value of Bonds initially deposited in such Trust.
    
 
2.  WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES OF THE TRUSTS?
 
The objectives of the Trusts are income  exempt from Federal income tax and,  in
the  case of State Trusts, where applicable, state income and intangibles taxes,
and conservation of capital, through an  investment in obligations issued by  or
on  behalf of states  and territories of  the United States  and authorities and
political subdivisions thereof,  the interest  on which  is, in  the opinion  of
recognized  bond counsel  to the  issuing governmental  authorities, exempt from
Federal income tax under existing law. Bonds in any State Trust have been issued
primarily by  or on  behalf of  the  State for  which such  Trust is  named  and
counties,  municipalities, authorities  and political  subdivisions thereof, the
interest on which Bonds is, in the opinion of bond counsel, exempt from  Federal
and  certain state income tax and intangibles  taxes, if any, for purchasers who
qualify as residents of that  State. Insurance guaranteeing the timely  payment,
when  due, of all principal and interest on  the Bonds in each Insured Trust has
been obtained by the Sponsor or by the issuers of such Bonds from MBIA Insurance
Corporation, and as a  result of such insurance  the obligations in the  Insured
Trusts  are rated "Aaa" by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. and "AAA" by Standard
& Poor's Corporation. (SEE SECTION 5) All obligations in each Traditional  Trust
are  rated in the category "A" or better (SP-1 or MIG 2 or better in the case of
short term obligations included in a Short Term
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
Traditional Trust)  by  Standard  &  Poor's  Corporation  or  Moody's  Investors
Service,  Inc.  (including  provisional or  conditional  ratings).  In addition,
certain Bonds  in  certain  Traditional  Trusts  may  be  covered  by  insurance
guaranteeing  the timely payment, when due,  of all principal and interest. (SEE
SECTION 3.) The  portfolios of National  and State Trusts  consist of  long-term
(approximately 15 to 40 year maturities) obligations; those of Long Intermediate
Trusts  consist  of  intermediate to  long  term  (approximately 11  to  19 year
maturities) obligations; those  of Intermediate Trusts  consist of  intermediate
term  (approximately  5  to  15 year  maturities)  obligations;  those  of Short
Intermediate Trusts consist of short to intermediate term (approximately 3 to  7
year  maturities) obligations; and  those of Short Term  Trusts consist of short
term (approximately 1 to 5 year maturities) obligations. There is, of course, no
guarantee that the Trusts' objectives will be achieved. For a comparison of  net
after-tax  return for various tax brackets see the "Taxable Equivalent Estimated
Current Return Tables" included in this Prospectus.
 
    Each Trust consists  of fixed-rate  municipal debt  obligations. Because  of
this  an investment in a Trust should be made with an understanding of the risks
which an investment in such debt obligations may entail, including the risk that
the value of the debt obligations and  therefore of the Units will decline  with
increases  in  interest  rates. In  general,  the  longer the  period  until the
maturity of a  Bond, the more  sensitive its  value will be  to fluctuations  in
interest rates. During the past decade, there have been substantial fluctuations
in  interest  rates, and,  accordingly, in  the value  of debt  obligations. The
Sponsor cannot predict whether such fluctuations will recur.
 
3.  SUMMARY OF PORTFOLIOS
 
In selecting  Bonds for  the  respective Trusts,  the following  factors,  among
others,  were considered:  (i) the Standard  & Poor's Corporation  rating of the
Bonds or the Moody's Investors Service, Inc. rating of the Bonds (see Section  2
for  a description of  minimum rating standards),  (ii) the prices  of the Bonds
relative  to  other  bonds  of  comparable  quality  and  maturity,  (iii)   the
diversification of Bonds as to purpose of issue and location of issuer, (iv) the
maturity dates of the Bonds, and (v) in the case of the Insured Trusts only, the
availability of MBIA Insurance Corporation insurance on such Bonds.
 
    In  order for Bonds in the Insured  Trusts to be eligible for MBIA Insurance
Corporation insurance,  they  must have  credit  characteristics which,  in  the
opinion  of the insurer,  would qualify them  as "investment grade" obligations.
Insurance is not a substitute for the basic credit of an issuer, but supplements
the existing credit and provides additional security therefor. (SEE SECTION 5.)
 
    Certain bonds may carry a "mandatory put" (also referred to as a  "mandatory
tender"  or "mandatory repurchase") feature pursuant to which the holder of such
bonds will receive payment of the full principal amount thereof on a stated date
prior to the maturity date unless  such holder affirmatively acts to retain  the
bond.  Under the Indenture,  the Trustee does  not have the  authority to act to
retain Bonds with  such features; accordingly,  it will receive  payment of  the
full  principal amount of any such Bonds on the stated put date and such date is
therefore treated as the maturity date of such Bonds in selecting Bonds for  the
respective  Trusts and for  purposes of calculating the  average maturity of the
Bonds in any Trust.
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
   
MARYLAND TRADITIONAL TRUST 307
    
 
   
    The  Portfolio of Maryland  Traditional Trust 307  consists of 6 obligations
issued by entities located  in Maryland and one  obligation issued by an  entity
located  in the  Territory of Puerto  Rico. Two  Bonds in the  Trust are general
obligations of the  governmental entities  issuing them  and are  backed by  the
taxing  powers thereof. Five Bonds in the  Trust are payable as to principal and
interest from  the  income  of a  specific  project  or authority  and  are  not
supported  by the issuer's power to levy taxes. The sources of payment for these
Bonds are divided  as follows: College  and University Revenue,  1; Health  Care
Facility  Revenue,  2;  Multi-Family  Housing  Revenue,  1;  Water  and/or Sewer
Revenue, 1.  Seven  issues  in  the  Trust  were  rated  by  Standard  &  Poor's
Corporation  as  follows: 5--AAA,  1-- AA+,  1--AA. Seven  issues were  rated by
Moody's Investors Service, Inc. as follows: 5-- Aaa, 1--Aa1, 1--Aa.
    
 
   
    At the Date of Deposit,  the average maturity of  the Bonds in the  Maryland
Traditional Trust is 24.2 years. The average maturity of the Bonds in a Trust is
calculated based upon the stated maturities of the Bonds in such Trust (or, with
respect  to Bonds for  which funds or  securities have been  placed in escrow to
redeem such Bonds on a stated call date, based upon such call date). The average
maturity of the Bonds in a Trust may  increase or decrease from time to time  as
Bonds mature or are called or sold.
    
 
   
    Approximately  42.9% of the  aggregate principal amount of  the Bonds in the
Trust (accounting for approximately 41.3% of the aggregate offering price of the
Bonds)   are    original   issue    discount   bonds.    See   "GENERAL    TRUST
INFORMATION--ORIGINAL  ISSUE  DISCOUNT  BONDS AND  STRIPPED  OBLIGATIONS"  for a
discussion of the  characteristics of  such bonds  and of  the risks  associated
therewith.
    
 
    Approximately  29% of  the aggregate  principal amount  of the  Bonds in the
Trust are  obligations of  issuers  whose revenues  are primarily  derived  from
hospitals  or other health care services, all  of which is covered by insurance.
The source  of payment  for these  Bonds  is insured  by a  commercial  insurer.
Consequently,  the credit ratings of such Bonds essentially reflect the strength
of the insurance or  guarantee and, depending upon  the actual structure of  the
bond  issue, are typically  rated "Aaa" or "Aa"  by Moody's or  "AAA" or "AA" by
Standard & Poor's.
 
    For a discussion of  the risks associated with  investments in the bonds  of
various issuers, see "General Trust Information" in this section.
 
   
    The Sponsor entered into contracts to acquire the Bonds between May 23, 1995
and  May 30, 1995. The following  summarizes certain information about the Bonds
as of the business day prior to the Date of Deposit:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRUSTEE'S
                                                               DETERMINATION OF OFFERING PRICE AND
   COST TO    PROFIT (OR LOSS)   ANNUAL INTEREST   BID PRICE              THE BID PRICE
   SPONSOR       TO SPONSOR      INCOME TO TRUST    OF BONDS       (AS % OF PRINCIPAL AMOUNT)
  ----------  -----------------  ----------------  ----------  -----------------------------------
  <S>         <C>                <C>               <C>         <C>
  $3,308,614       $22,771           $185,625      $3,315,135                 .46%
</TABLE>
    
 
    Neither  cost  to  Sponsor  nor   profit  (or  loss)  to  Sponsor   reflects
underwriting  profits or losses received or  incurred by the Sponsor through its
participation  in  underwriting  syndicates.  An  underwriter  or   underwriting
syndicate  purchases bonds  from the issuer  on a negotiated  or competitive bid
basis as principal with  the motive of  marketing such bonds  to investors at  a
profit.  The Sponsor did  not participate as  either the sole  underwriter or as
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
a manager or member of a syndicate that acted as the original underwriter of any
of the Bonds.
 
   
    Unitholders may  elect to  have interest  distributions made  on a  monthly,
quarterly or semi-annual basis. The interest on the Bonds initially deposited in
the  Maryland Traditional Trust, less estimated expenses, is estimated to accrue
at the  rate  of  $.01429  per  Unit per  day  under  the  semi-annual  plan  of
distribution,  $.01423 per Unit per day under the quarterly plan of distribution
and $.01414 per  Unit per  day under  the monthly  plan of  distribution. It  is
anticipated  that the amount of interest to be distributed per Unit in each year
under each plan  of distribution will  initially be substantially  equal to  the
Estimated Net Annual Interest Income per Unit for that plan.
    
 
    Details of interest distributions per Unit of the Maryland Traditional Trust
under  the various plans appear in the  following table based upon estimated Net
Annual Interest Income at the Date of Deposit:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                       NORMAL
                                                                                                                   DISTRIBUTIONS
MARYLAND TRADITIONAL TRUST                               1995                                  1996                   PER YEAR
<S>                                     <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------      --------------
Record Date*..........................        7/1            8/1           11/1            2/1            5/1
Distribution Date.....................       7/15           8/15          11/15           2/15           5/15
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monthly Distribution Plan.............  $   .4383(1)                                                               $  5.0937
                                                              --------   $.4242 every month   --------
Quarterly Distribution Plan...........  $   .4383(1)   $   .4269(2)   $  1.2807      $  1.2807      $  1.2807      $  5.1257
Semi-Annual Distribution Plan.........  $   .4383(1)                  $  1.7148(3)                  $  2.5722      $  5.1447
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<FN>
 * Record Dates for semi-annual distributions are May 1 and November 1; for quarterly distributions, they are February 1, May  1,
   August 1 and November 1. Record Dates for monthly distributions are the first day of each month.
(1)  The first distribution will be paid to all Unitholders,  regardless of the distribution plan selected. Such distribution may
    be more or less than a regular monthly distribution.
(2) The  second distribution  under the  quarterly  distribution plan  represents a  1-month distribution;  subsequent  quarterly
    distributions will be regular 3-month distributions.
(3)  The second distribution  under the semi-annual distribution  plan represents a  4-month distribution; subsequent semi-annual
    distributions will be regular 6-month distributions.
</TABLE>
    
 
    The accrual amounts set forth above, and  in turn the amount of interest  to
be  distributed annually per Unit, will  generally change as Bonds are redeemed,
mature or are sold or as fees and expenses increase or decrease.
 
TAX STATUS--MARYLAND TRADITIONAL TRUST
 
    For a discussion  of the  Federal tax status  of income  earned on  Maryland
Traditional Trust Units, see Section 11.
 
    The   assets   of   the   Maryland  Traditional   Trust   will   consist  of
interest-bearing obligations issued by  or on behalf of  the State of  Maryland,
its political subdivisions and authorities and, provided the interest thereon is
exempt  from State income  taxes by the  laws or treaties  of the United States,
obligations issued  by  or  on  behalf of  the  United  States'  territories  or
possessions, including Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands, their political
subdivisions and authorities (the "Maryland Bonds").
 
    In  the  opinion of  Venable, Baetjer  and Howard,  special counsel  for the
Series for Maryland tax matters, under existing law:
 
        For  Maryland  state  and  local  income  tax  purposes,  the   Maryland
    Traditional  Trust will not be taxable as  an association, and the income of
    the Maryland  Traditional  Trust  will  be treated  as  the  income  of  the
    Unitholders.
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
        For  Maryland state  and local  tax purposes,  interest on  the Maryland
    Bonds which is exempt from Maryland state and local income tax when received
    by the Maryland Traditional Trust, and  which would be exempt from  Maryland
    state and local income tax if received directly by a Unitholder, will retain
    its  status as tax-exempt interest when received by the Maryland Traditional
    Trust and distributed to the Unitholders.
 
        Interest derived from  the Maryland  Traditional Trust  by a  Unitholder
    with  respect to the Maryland Bonds will not be subject to Maryland state or
    local income  taxes;  provided that  interest  or profit  derived  from  the
    Maryland Traditional Trust by a financial institution, as defined in Section
    8-101(c)  of the Tax-General Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, will
    be subject to the  Maryland state franchise  tax on financial  institutions,
    except  to the  extent such interest  is expressly exempt  from the Maryland
    state franchise tax  by the statutes  which authorize the  issuance of  such
    Maryland  Bonds  (See  Section  8-204  of the  Tax  General  Article  of the
    Annotated Code of Maryland).
 
        A Unitholder will not be subject  to Maryland state or local income  tax
    with  respect  to gain  realized when  Maryland Bonds  held in  the Maryland
    Traditional Trust  are sold,  redeemed,  or paid  at maturity,  except  with
    respect  to gain realized upon a sale,  redemption or payment at maturity of
    such Maryland  Bonds  as  are  issued  by or  on  behalf  of  United  States
    territories  or possessions,  their political  subdivisions and authorities;
    such gain will equal the proceeds  of sale, redemption or payment, less  the
    tax basis of the Maryland Bonds (adjusted to reflect (a) the amortization of
    Bond  premium or discount,  and (b) the deposit  in the Maryland Traditional
    Trust after the Unitholder's settlement date of Maryland Bonds with  accrued
    interest).
 
        Although  the  matter  is  not  free  from  doubt,  gain  realized  by a
    Unitholder from  the redemption,  sale or  other disposition  of a  Maryland
    Traditional  Trust Unit  (i) will  be subject  to Maryland  state income tax
    except in the case of individual Unitholders who are not Maryland residents,
    and (ii)  will be  subject  to Maryland  local income  tax  in the  case  of
    individual Unitholders who are Maryland residents.
 
        If  interest on  indebtedness incurred or  continued by  a Unitholder to
    purchase Units  in the  Maryland  Traditional Trust  is not  deductible  for
    Federal  income tax  purposes, it  will also  be nondeductible  for Maryland
    state income tax purposes and, if applicable, local income tax purposes.
 
        Maryland Traditional Trust Units will be subject to Maryland inheritance
    and estate tax  only if  held by  Maryland residents.  Neither the  Maryland
    Bonds  nor the Maryland Traditional Trust  Units will be subject to Maryland
    personal property tax, sales tax or use tax.
 
ECONOMIC FACTORS--MARYLAND
 
    Some of the significant financial considerations relating to the investments
of the  Maryland Traditional  Trust are  summarized below.  This information  is
derived principally from official statements and preliminary official statements
released  on or before May 13, 1992,  relating to issues of Maryland obligations
and does not purport to be a complete description.
 
    The State's total expenditures  for the fiscal years  ending June 30,  1990,
June  30, 1991  and June  30, 1992  were $11.019,  $11.304 and  $11.657 billion,
respectively. As of January 13, 1993,  it was estimated that total  expenditures
for fiscal 1993 would be $11.897 billion. The State's General Fund, representing
approximately 55%-60% of each year's total budget, had
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
a  surplus on a budgetary basis of $57 million in fiscal year 1990, $55 thousand
in fiscal year 1991, and a deficit  of $56 million in fiscal 1992. The  Governor
of  Maryland reduced  fiscal 1993  appropriations by  $56 million  to offset the
fiscal 1992 deficit. The State Constitution mandates a balanced budget.
 
    The 1993 fiscal year budget was  enacted in April 1992 which, together  with
legislation  enacted in 1992,  involved the transfer of  certain funds, new fees
and taxes, and alteration of certain statutory State expenditure programs.  When
the  1993 budget was enacted, it was  estimated that the General Fund surplus at
June 30, 1993 would  be approximately $10 million  on a budgetary basis.  During
the final months of fiscal year 1992 and the initial months of fiscal year 1993,
collections of State revenues were below the levels estimated at the time of the
adoption  of the 1993 budget.  The Governor proposed a  cost containment plan to
address this  revenue shortfall  and to  provide reserves  to finance  potential
deficiency  appropriations. On  September 30,  1992, the  Board of  Public Works
approved the Governor's proposal to  reduce General Fund appropriations by  $168
million.  The Board  of Public  Works also  approved the  Governor's proposal to
reduce the special fund appropriations  for the Department of Transportation  by
$30  million.  Legislation was  introduced at  the 1993  session of  the General
Assembly to  transfer this  $30 million  to the  General Fund,  as well  as  $10
million from various other special funds. In a special session held in November,
1992,  the  General Assembly  enacted legislation  reducing  State aid  to local
governments by  $147 million.  In  addition, other  elements of  the  governor's
original  cost  containment plan  are  in the  process  of being  implemented or
revised.
 
    The public indebtedness  of Maryland  and its  instrumentalities is  divided
into  three  basic types.  The  State issues  general  obligation bonds,  to the
payment of which the State ad  valorem property tax is exclusively pledged,  for
capital improvements and for various State-sponsored projects. The Department of
Transportation   of  Maryland  issues  limited,  special  obligation  bonds  for
transportation purposes payable primarily from specific, fixed-rate excise taxes
and other  revenues related  mainly to  highway use.  Certain authorities  issue
obligations  payable solely from  specific non-tax enterprise  fund revenues and
for which  the  State  has  no  liability and  has  given  no  moral  obligation
assurance.
 
    According  to the most recent available ratings, general obligation bonds of
the State of Maryland are rated "Aaa" by Moody's and "AAA" by Standard &  Poor's
Corporation,  as  are those  of Baltimore  County,  a separate  political entity
surrounding Baltimore  City.  General  obligation bonds  of  Montgomery  County,
located in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., are rated "Aaa" by Moody's and "AAA"
by  Standard & Poor's  Corporation. General obligation  bonds of Prince George's
County, the second largest metropolitan county, which is also in the suburbs  of
Washington,  D.C., are  rated "A1"  by Moody's  and "AA-"  by Standard  & Poor's
Corporation. The general obligation bonds of  those other counties of the  State
that  are rated  by Moody's carry  an "A" rating  or better except  for those of
Allegany County,  which  are rated  "Baa".  The most  populous  municipality  in
Maryland  is Baltimore City, the general obligaton bonds of which are rated "A1"
by Moody's and "A"  by Standard & Poor's  Corporation. The majority of  Maryland
Health  and Higher  Education Authority  and State  Department of Transportation
revenue bond issues have received an "A" rating or better from Moody's.
 
    While the ratings and other  factors mentioned above indicate that  Maryland
and  its principal subdivisions  and agencies are addressing  the effects of the
economic recession and, overall, are in satisfactory economic health, there can,
of course, be no assurance that
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
this will continue or that particular bond issues may not be adversely  affected
by changes in state or local economic or political conditions.
 
MARYLAND TAXABLE ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN TABLE
 
    The  following tables show the approximate taxable estimated current returns
for individuals  that are  equivalent to  tax-exempt estimated  current  returns
under  combined Federal,  state and local  taxes, using  published 1995 marginal
Federal tax rates and marginal state and local tax rates currently available and
scheduled to  be in  effect*. The  tables incorporate  increased tax  rates  for
higher-income  taxpayers that were included in the Revenue Reconciliation Act of
1993. Except as indicated below, for cases in which more than one state  bracket
falls  within a Federal bracket, the highest  state bracket is combined with the
Federal bracket.  The  combined state,  local  and Federal  tax  brackets  shown
reflect  the fact that  state tax payments are  currently deductible for Federal
tax purposes.  The tables  illustrate what  you would  have to  earn on  taxable
investments to equal the tax-exempt estimated current return for your income tax
bracket.  A taxpayer's marginal tax rate is  affected by both his taxable income
and his  adjusted gross  income. Locate  your adjusted  gross and  your  taxable
income  (which  is your  adjusted  gross income  reduced  by any  deductions and
exemptions), then locate your tax bracket  based on joint or single tax  filing.
Read across to the equivalent taxable estimated current return you would need to
match the tax-free income.
 
 COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR JOINT TAXPAYERS WITH FOUR PERSONAL EXEMPTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL      COMBINED
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED       STATE*,
    TAXABLE        GROSS       LOCAL AND                   TAX-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      4.50%   4.75%   5.00%   5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 39.0 $     0-114.7      21.5   %     5.73    6.05    6.37    6.69    7.01    7.32    7.64    7.96
    39.0- 94.3       0-114.7      33.5         6.77    7.14    7.52    7.89    8.27    8.65    9.02    9.40
                 114.7-172.1      34.0         6.82    7.20    7.58    7.95    8.33    8.71    9.09    9.47
    94.3-143.6       0-114.7      36.0         7.03    7.42    7.81    8.20    8.59    8.98    9.38    9.77
                 114.7-172.1      37.0         7.14    7.54    7.94    8.33    8.73    9.13    9.52    9.92
                 172.1-294.6      39.5         7.44    7.85    8.26    8.68    9.09    9.50    9.92   10.33
   143.6-150.0   114.7-172.1      42.0         7.76    8.19    8.62    9.05    9.48    9.91   10.34   10.78
                 172.1-294.6      44.5         8.11    8.56    9.01    9.46    9.91   10.36   10.81   11.26
   150.0-256.5   114.7-172.1      42.5         7.83    8.26    8.70    9.13    9.57   10.00   10.43   10.87
                 172.1-294.6      45.5         8.26    8.72    9.17    9.63   10.09   10.55   11.01   11.47
                  Over 294.6      42.5   2     7.83    8.26    8.70    9.13    9.57   10.00   10.43   10.87
    Over 256.5   172.1-294.6      49.0         8.82    9.31    9.80   10.29   10.78   11.27   11.76   12.25
                  Over 294.6      46.0   3     8.33    8.80    9.26    9.72   10.19   10.65   11.11   11.57
                COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR SINGLE TAXPAYERS WITH ONE PERSONAL EXEMPTION
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL      COMBINED
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED       STATE*,
    TAXABLE        GROSS       LOCAL AND                   TAX-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      4.50%   4.75%   5.00%   5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 23.4 $     0-114.7      21.5         5.73    6.05    6.37    6.69    7.01    7.32    7.64    7.96
    23.4- 56.6       0-114.7      33.5         6.77    7.14    7.52    7.89    8.27    8.65    9.02    9.40
    56.6-100.0       0-114.7      36.0         7.03    7.42    7.81    8.20    8.59    8.98    9.38    9.77
                 114.7-237.2      37.5         7.20    7.60    8.00    8.40    8.80    9.20    9.60   10.00
   100.0-118.0   114.7-237.2      38.5         7.32    7.72    8.13    8.54    8.94    9.35    9.76   10.16
   118.0-256.5   114.7-237.2      43.5         7.96    8.41    8.85    9.29    9.73   10.18   10.62   11.06
                  Over 237.2      42.5   2     7.83    8.26    8.70    9.13    9.57   10.00   10.43   10.87
    Over 256.5    Over 237.2      46.0   3     8.33    8.80    9.26    9.72   10.19   10.65   11.11   11.57
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------
 
     *  These tables approximate the effect of the exemption of distributions of
tax-exempt income from  the Maryland Trust  from county taxes,  assuming a  rate
equal  to 50%  of the  applicable Maryland  state income  tax rate.  In general,
Maryland  local  income  taxes  imposed   by  various  counties  are  equal   to
approximately  50% of the state income  tax liability, although Worcester County
currently imposes an income tax equal to 30% of the state income tax liability.
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
       1 The table reflects the effect of the limitations on itemized deductions
and the  deduction for  personal exemptions.  They were  designed to  phase  out
certain  benefits  of  these  deductions  for  higher  income  taxpayers.  These
limitations, in effect, raise the current  maximum marginal Federal tax rate  to
approximately  44.0 percent for taxpayers filing  a joint return and entitled to
four personal exemptions and to approximately 41.0 percent for taxpayers  filing
a  single return entitled to only  one personal exemption. These limitations are
subject to certain maximums,  which depend on the  number of exemptions  claimed
and  the total  amount of the  taxpayer's itemized deductions.  For example, the
limitation on itemized deductions  will not cause a  taxpayer to lose more  than
80% of his allowable itemized deductions, with certain exceptions.
 
       2  Federal tax rate reverts to 36.0%  after the 80% cap on the limitation
on itemized deductions has been met.
 
       3 Federal tax rate reverts to 39.6%  after the 80% cap on the  limitation
on itemized deductions has been met.
 
    A  comparison of tax-free  and equivalent taxable  estimated current returns
with the returns on  various taxable investments is  one element to consider  in
making  an  investment  decision. The  Sponsor  may  from time  to  time  in its
advertising and sales materials  compare the then  current estimated returns  on
the Trust and returns over specified periods on other similar Nuveen Trusts with
returns  on taxable investments such as corporate or U.S. Government bonds, bank
CD's and  money  market  accounts or  money  market  funds, each  of  which  has
investment  characteristics  that  may  differ from  those  of  the  Trust. U.S.
Government bonds, for example, are  backed by the full  faith and credit of  the
U.S. Government and bank CD's and money market accounts are insured by an agency
of  the federal government. Money market accounts and money market funds provide
stability of principal, but pay interest  at rates that vary with the  condition
of  the short-term debt market. The  investment characteristics of the Trust are
described more fully elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
   
NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AT DATE OF DEPOSIT
MAY 31, 1995
MARYLAND TRADITIONAL TRUST 307
(SERIES 805)
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          Ratings(3)           Trustee's
                                                                      Optional       ---------------------   Determination
 Aggregate        Name of Issuer and Title of Issue Represented      Redemption       Standard                of Offering
  Principal        by Sponsor's Contracts to Purchase Bonds(1)      Provisions(2)     & Poor's    Moody's      Price(4)
<C>          <C> <S>                                              <C>                <C>         <C>        <C>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$   500,000      Maryland Health and Higher Educational              2003 at 102        AAA         Aaa     $       451,240
                   Facilities Authority, Revenue Bonds, Anne
                   Arundel Medical Center Issue, Series 1993,
                   5.00% Due 7/1/23. (Original issue discount
                   bonds delivered on or about March 30, 1993 at
                   a price of 93.00% of principal amount.)(AMBAC
                   Insured.)
    500,000      Maryland Health and Higher Educational              2003 at 100        AAA         Aaa             465,340
                   Facilities Authority, Project and Refunding
                   Revenue Bonds, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore
                   Issue, Series 1993, 5.25% Due 7/1/23.
                   (Original issue discount bonds delivered on
                   or about June 29, 1993 at a price of 92.89%
                   of principal amount.)(AMBAC Insured.)
    500,000      University of Maryland System, Auxiliary            2003 at 102        AA+         Aa              497,245
                   Facility and Tuition Revenue Bonds, 1993
                   Series A, 5.50% Due 4/1/12.
    500,000      City of Baltimore, Maryland (Mayor and City      No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa             458,405
                   Council of Baltimore), Refunding Revenue
                   Bonds (Wastewater Projects), Series 1994-A,
                   5.00% Due 7/1/22. (Original issue discount
                   bonds delivered on or about February 24, 1994
                   at a price of 94.22% of principal
                   amount.)(FGIC Insured.)
    500,000      The Mayor and Council of Rockville (Maryland),      2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             485,535
                   Mortgage Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series
                   1994A (FHA Insured Mortgage Loan-The Summit
                   Apartments Project), 5.625% Due 7/1/19. (MBIA
                   Insured.)
    500,000      Washington Suburban Sanitary District, Maryland     2004 at 102         AA         Aa1             473,620
                   (Montgomery and Prince George's Counties,
                   Maryland), Water Supply Refunding Bonds of
                   1994, 5.00% Due 6/1/11. (General Obligation
                   Bonds.)
    500,000      Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Public Improvement   2005 at 101 1/2      AAA         Aaa             500,000
                   Bonds of 1995 (General Obligation Bonds.),
                   5.75% Due 7/1/24. (MBIA Insured.)
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
$ 3,500,000                                                                                                 $     3,331,385
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
</TABLE>
    
 
See Notes to Schedules of Investments, page 35.
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
   
NORTH CAROLINA TRADITIONAL TRUST 289
    
 
   
    The  Portfolio  of  North  Carolina  Traditional  Trust  289  consists  of 7
obligations issued  by entities  located in  North Carolina  and one  obligation
issued  by an entity located in the Territory  of Puerto Rico. Four Bonds in the
Trust are general obligations of the governmental entities issuing them and  are
backed  by the taxing powers thereof. Four Bonds  in the Trust are payable as to
principal and interest from  the income of a  specific project or authority  and
are  not supported by the  issuer's power to levy  taxes. The sources of payment
for these  Bonds  are divided  as  follows:  Health Care  Facility  Revenue,  1;
Combination  Utility Revenue, 1; Municipal Lease Revenue, 2. Eight issues in the
Trust were rated  by Standard  & Poor's  Corporation as  follows: 8--AAA.  Eight
issues were rated by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. as follows: 8--Aaa.
    
 
   
    At  the Date  of Deposit,  the average  maturity of  the Bonds  in the North
Carolina Traditional Trust is 20.6 years. The average maturity of the Bonds in a
Trust is calculated based upon the stated maturities of the Bonds in such  Trust
(or,  with respect to  Bonds for which  funds or securities  have been placed in
escrow to redeem such Bonds on a  stated call date, based upon such call  date).
The  average maturity of the Bonds in a Trust may increase or decrease from time
to time as Bonds mature or are called or sold.
    
 
   
    Approximately 28.6% of the  aggregate principal amount of  the Bonds in  the
Trust (accounting for approximately 26.6% of the aggregate offering price of the
Bonds)    are   original    issue   discount    bonds.   See    "GENERAL   TRUST
INFORMATION--ORIGINAL ISSUE  DISCOUNT  BONDS  AND STRIPPED  OBLIGATIONS"  for  a
discussion  of the  characteristics of  such bonds  and of  the risks associated
therewith.
    
 
    Approximately 29% of  the aggregate  principal amount  of the  Bonds in  the
Trust  are  obligations of  issuers whose  revenues  are primarily  derived from
municipal lease obligations,  all of  which is covered  by insurance.  Insurance
guaranteeing prompt payment of interest and principal on certain of the Bonds in
the  Trust has been obtained  by the issuer or underwriter  of such Bonds from a
commercial insurer. Such Bonds are  rated "Aaa" or "Aa"  by Moody's or "AAA"  or
"AA"  by Standard & Poor's, reflecting those rating agencies' current assessment
of the creditworthiness  of the insurer  and its  ability to pay  claims on  its
policies of insurance.
 
    For  a discussion of the  risks associated with investments  in the bonds of
various issuers, see "General Trust Information" in this section.
 
   
    The Sponsor entered into contracts to acquire the Bonds between May 23, 1995
and May 30, 1995. The following  summarizes certain information about the  Bonds
as of the business day prior to the Date of Deposit:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRUSTEE'S
                                                               DETERMINATION OF OFFERING PRICE AND
   COST TO    PROFIT (OR LOSS)   ANNUAL INTEREST   BID PRICE              THE BID PRICE
   SPONSOR       TO SPONSOR      INCOME TO TRUST    OF BONDS       (AS % OF PRINCIPAL AMOUNT)
  ----------  -----------------  ----------------  ----------  -----------------------------------
  <S>         <C>                <C>               <C>         <C>
  $3,378,013       $14,910           $187,520      $3,377,298                 .45%
</TABLE>
    
 
    Neither   cost  to  Sponsor  nor  profit   (or  loss)  to  Sponsor  reflects
underwriting profits or losses received or  incurred by the Sponsor through  its
participation   in  underwriting  syndicates.  An  underwriter  or  underwriting
syndicate purchases bonds  from the issuer  on a negotiated  or competitive  bid
basis  as principal with  the motive of  marketing such bonds  to investors at a
profit. The Sponsor  did not participate  as either the  sole underwriter or  as
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
a manager or member of a syndicate that acted as the original underwriter of any
of the Bonds.
 
   
    Unitholders  may elect  to have  interest distributions  made on  a monthly,
quarterly or semi-annual basis. The interest on the Bonds initially deposited in
the North Carolina Traditional Trust,  less estimated expenses, is estimated  to
accrue  at the rate  of $.01433 per Unit  per day under  the semi-annual plan of
distribution, $.01428 per Unit per day under the quarterly plan of  distribution
and  $.01419 per  Unit per  day under  the monthly  plan of  distribution. It is
anticipated that the amount of interest to be distributed per Unit in each  year
under  each plan  of distribution will  initially be substantially  equal to the
Estimated Net Annual Interest Income per Unit for that plan.
    
 
    Details of interest distributions per Unit of the North Carolina Traditional
Trust under the various plans appear in the following table based upon estimated
Net Annual Interest Income at the Date of Deposit:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                       NORMAL
                                                                                                                   DISTRIBUTIONS
NORTH CAROLINA TRADITIONAL TRUST                         1995                                  1996                   PER YEAR
<S>                                     <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------      --------------
Record Date*..........................        7/1            8/1           11/1            2/1            5/1
Distribution Date.....................       7/15           8/15          11/15           2/15           5/15
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monthly Distribution Plan.............  $   .4409(1)                                                               $  5.1438
                                                              --------   $.4284 every month   --------
Quarterly Distribution Plan...........  $   .4409(1)   $   .4311(2)   $  1.2933      $  1.2933      $  1.2933      $  5.1758
Semi-Annual Distribution Plan.........  $   .4409(1)                  $  1.7316(3)                  $  2.5974      $  5.1948
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<FN>
 * Record Dates for semi-annual distributions are May 1 and November 1; for quarterly distributions, they are February 1, May  1,
   August 1 and November 1. Record Dates for monthly distributions are the first day of each month.
(1)  The first distribution will be paid to all Unitholders,  regardless of the distribution plan selected. Such distribution may
    be more or less than a regular monthly distribution.
(2) The  second distribution  under the  quarterly  distribution plan  represents a  1-month distribution;  subsequent  quarterly
    distributions will be regular 3-month distributions.
(3)  The second distribution  under the semi-annual distribution  plan represents a  4-month distribution; subsequent semi-annual
    distributions will be regular 6-month distributions.
</TABLE>
    
 
    The accrual amounts set forth above, and  in turn the amount of interest  to
be  distributed annually per Unit, will  generally change as Bonds are redeemed,
mature or are sold or as fees and expenses increase or decrease.
 
TAX STATUS--NORTH CAROLINA TRADITIONAL TRUST
 
    For a  discussion  of the  Federal  tax status  of  income earned  on  North
Carolina Traditional Trust Units, see Section 11.
 
    The  assets of the Trust will consist of interest-bearing obligations issued
by or on behalf of the State  of North Carolina, its political subdivisions  and
authorities  and, provided  the interest thereon  is exempt  from North Carolina
income taxes by the laws  or treaties of the United  States, by or on behalf  of
the  United States territories or possessions (including Puerto Rico, the Virgin
Islands, Guam and  the Northern Mariana  Islands), their political  subdivisions
and authorities (the "North Carolina Bonds").
 
    In  the opinion of Moore & Van Allen, special North Carolina counsel for the
Series, under existing law:
 
        The North Carolina Traditional Trust is not an association taxable as  a
    corporation  for North Carolina  income tax purposes.  Interest on the North
    Carolina Bonds which is
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
    exempt from North Carolina  income tax when received  by the North  Carolina
    Traditional  Trust  will  retain  its  status  as  tax-exempt  interest when
    distributed to Unitholders.
 
        For North  Carolina income  tax purposes,  each Unitholder  will have  a
    taxable  event when, upon redemption or sale  of his Units, he receives cash
    or other  property.  Gain  or  loss will  be  determined  by  computing  the
    difference  between  the  proceeds of  such  a  redemption or  sale  and the
    Unitholder's adjusted basis for the Units.
 
        For North  Carolina income  tax purposes,  each Unitholder  will have  a
    taxable  event when the North Carolina  Traditional Trust disposes of one of
    the North Carolina Bonds (whether  by sale, payment at maturity,  retirement
    or  otherwise); provided that when  any of the North  Carolina Bonds held by
    the North Carolina Traditional  Trust have been issued  under an act of  the
    General  Assembly of North Carolina that  provides that all income from such
    North Carolina Bond, including a profit made from the sale thereof, shall be
    free from  all taxation  by the  State of  North Carolina,  any such  profit
    received by the Trust will retain its tax-exempt status in the hands of each
    Unitholder.
 
        Interest  on indebtedness paid or accrued  by a Unitholder in connection
    with ownership of Units in the North Carolina Traditional Trust will not  be
    deductible by the Unitholder for North Carolina state income tax purposes.
 
        Amortization  of  North Carolina  Bond premiums  is mandatory  for North
    Carolina  state  income  tax  purposes  for  all  North  Carolina   resident
    Unitholders.  Amortization for the taxable  year is accomplished by lowering
    the basis or adjusted  basis of the Units,  with no deduction against  gross
    income for the year.
 
        Trust Units will be subject to North Carolina inheritance and estate tax
    if  owned by a North Carolina resident on the date of his death. Neither the
    North Carolina Bonds  nor the Units  will be subject  to the North  Carolina
    sales tax or use tax.
 
ECONOMIC FACTORS--NORTH CAROLINA
 
    The  economic profile of North Carolina consists primarily of manufacturing,
agriculture,  tourism  and  mining.  The  North  Carolina  Employment   Security
Commission's   preliminary  figures   indicate  that   non-agricultural  payroll
employment accounted for  approximately 3,250,500  jobs in  September 1993,  the
largest  segment of which was the approximately 852,600 in manufacturing. During
the period  1985  to  1990,  per  capita income  in  North  Carolina  grew  from
approximately $11,669 to approximately $16,266, an increase of 39.4%.
 
    Agriculture  is  a basic  element in  the economy  of North  Carolina. Gross
agricultural income in 1992 was $5.2 billion, which placed North Carolina  tenth
in  cash receipts  in commodities.  A strong  agribusiness sector  also supports
farmers with farm inputs (fertilizer, insecticide, pesticide and farm machinery)
and processing  of  commodities  produced  by  farmers  (vegetable  canning  and
cigarette manufacturing).
 
    The  North Carolina Department of Commerce,  Division of Travel and Tourism,
has reported that in 1992 approximately $7.6 billion was spent on tourism in the
State (up 12.3% from 1989), and  that approximately $8.0 billion will have  been
spent  by the end of fiscal year 1993.  The Department also estimated that as of
the third  quarter  of  1993  approximately  255,000  people  were  employed  in
tourism-related jobs.
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
    The  North  Carolina  Employment  Security  Commission  estimated  the North
Carolina unemployment rate in September 1993 to be 3.7% of the labor force  (not
seasonably  adjusted)  and  4.2%  (seasonably  adjusted),  as  compared  with an
unemployment  rate  nationwide  of  6.4%  (not  seasonably  adjusted)  and  6.7%
(seasonably adjusted).
 
    General  obligations of  the State  are currently  rated "AAA"  and "Aaa" by
Standard & Poor's and Moody's, respectively. There can be no assurance that  the
economic conditions in which these ratings, or the ratings of the other bonds in
the Portfolio, are based will continue or that particular bond issues may not be
adversely   affected  by  changes  in   economic  or  political  conditions,  by
uncertainties peculiar to the issuers thereof or the revenue sources from  which
they  are to be  paid. The factual  information provided above  was derived from
publications of various North Carolina departments or agencies and has not  been
independently  verified.  Investors are  encouraged to  consult the  Schedule of
Investments at Date  of Deposit  for the  North Carolina  Traditional Trust  and
their  own investment advisors  regarding the merits of  particular bonds in the
Portfolio.
 
NORTH CAROLINA TAXABLE ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN TABLE
 
    The following tables show the approximate taxable estimated current  returns
for  individuals  that are  equivalent to  tax-exempt estimated  current returns
under combined Federal and  state taxes, using  published 1995 marginal  Federal
tax  rates and marginal state tax rates  currently available and scheduled to be
in  effect.  The  tables  incorporate  increased  tax  rates  for  higher-income
taxpayers  that were  included in  the Revenue  Reconciliation Act  of 1993. For
cases in which more than one state  bracket falls within a Federal bracket,  the
highest  state bracket is combined with  the Federal bracket. The combined state
and Federal tax  brackets shown  reflect the fact  that state  tax payments  are
currently  deductible for Federal  tax purposes. The  tables illustrate what you
would have to  earn on  taxable investments  to equal  the tax-exempt  estimated
current  return for your income  tax bracket. A taxpayer's  marginal tax rate is
affected by both his taxable income  and his adjusted gross income. Locate  your
adjusted  gross and  your taxable  income (which  is your  adjusted gross income
reduced by any deductions and exemptions), then locate your tax bracket based on
joint or single  tax filing.  Read across  to the  equivalent taxable  estimated
current return you would need to match the tax-free income.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
 COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR JOINT TAXPAYERS WITH FOUR PERSONAL EXEMPTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED      COMBINED
    TAXABLE        GROSS       STATE AND                   TAX-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      4.50%   4.75%   5.00%   5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 39.0 $     0-114.7      21.0   %     5.70    6.01    6.33    6.65    6.96    7.28    7.59    7.91
    39.0- 94.3       0-114.7      33.0         6.72    7.09    7.46    7.84    8.21    8.58    8.96    9.33
                 114.7-172.1      34.0         6.82    7.20    7.58    7.95    8.33    8.71    9.09    9.47
    94.3-143.6       0-114.7      36.5         7.09    7.48    7.87    8.27    8.66    9.06    9.45    9.84
                 114.7-172.1      37.0         7.14    7.54    7.94    8.33    8.73    9.13    9.52    9.92
                 172.1-294.6      39.5         7.44    7.85    8.26    8.68    9.09    9.50    9.92   10.33
   143.6-256.5   114.7-172.1      42.0         7.76    8.19    8.62    9.05    9.48    9.91   10.34   10.78
                 172.1-294.6      44.5         8.11    8.56    9.01    9.46    9.91   10.36   10.81   11.26
                  Over 294.6      42.0   2     7.76    8.19    8.62    9.05    9.48    9.91   10.34   10.78
    Over 256.5   172.1-294.6      48.5         8.74    9.22    9.71   10.19   10.68   11.17   11.65   12.14
                  Over 294.6      45.5   3     8.26    8.72    9.17    9.63   10.09   10.55   11.01   11.47
</TABLE>
 
  COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR SINGLE TAXPAYERS WITH ONE PERSONAL EXEMPTION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED      COMBINED
    TAXABLE        GROSS       STATE AND                   TAX-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      4.50%   4.75%   5.00%   5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 23.4 $     0-114.7      21.0   %     5.70    6.01    6.33    6.65    6.96    7.28    7.59    7.91
    23.4- 56.6       0-114.7      33.0         6.72    7.09    7.46    7.84    8.21    8.58    8.96    9.33
    56.6-118.0       0-114.7      36.5         7.09    7.48    7.87    8.27    8.66    9.06    9.45    9.84
                 114.7-237.2      38.0         7.26    7.66    8.06    8.47    8.87    9.27    9.68   10.08
   118.0-256.5   114.7-237.2      42.5         7.83    8.26    8.70    9.13    9.57   10.00   10.43   10.87
                  Over 237.2      42.0   2     7.76    8.19    8.62    9.05    9.48    9.91   10.34   10.78
    Over 256.5    Over 237.2      45.5   3     8.26    8.72    9.17    9.63   10.09   10.55   11.01   11.47
<FN>
- ------------------
      1  The table reflects the effect of the limitations on  itemized deductions and the deduction for personal exemptions. They
were designed to phase out certain benefits of these deductions for higher income taxpayers. These limitations, in effect,  raise
the  current maximum marginal Federal tax rate to approximately 44.0  percent for taxpayers filing a joint return and entitled to
four personal exemptions and to  approximately 41.0 percent for  taxpayers filing a single return  entitled to only one  personal
exemption.  These limitations are  subject to certain maximums,  which depend on  the number of exemptions  claimed and the total
amount of the taxpayer's itemized  deductions. For example, the  limitation on itemized deductions will  not cause a taxpayer  to
lose more than 80% of his allowable itemized deductions, with certain exceptions.
      2 Federal tax rate reverts to 36.0% after the 80% cap on the limitation on itemized deductions has been met.
      3 Federal tax rate reverts to 39.6% after the 80% cap on the limitation on itemized deductions has been met.
</TABLE>
 
    A  comparison of tax-free  and equivalent taxable  estimated current returns
with the returns on  various taxable investments is  one element to consider  in
making  an  investment  decision. The  Sponsor  may  from time  to  time  in its
advertising and sales materials  compare the then  current estimated returns  on
the Trust and returns over specified periods on other similar Nuveen Trusts with
returns  on taxable investments such as corporate or U.S. Government bonds, bank
CD's and  money  market  accounts or  money  market  funds, each  of  which  has
investment  characteristics  that  may  differ from  those  of  the  Trust. U.S.
Government bonds, for example, are  backed by the full  faith and credit of  the
U.S. Government and bank CD's and money market accounts are insured by an agency
of  the federal government. Money market accounts and money market funds provide
stability of principal, but pay interest  at rates that vary with the  condition
of  the short-term debt market. The  investment characteristics of the Trust are
described more fully elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
   
NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AT DATE OF DEPOSIT
MAY 31, 1995
NORTH CAROLINA TRADITIONAL TRUST 289
(SERIES 805)
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          Ratings(3)           Trustee's
                                                                      Optional       ---------------------   Determination
 Aggregate        Name of Issuer and Title of Issue Represented      Redemption       Standard                of Offering
  Principal        by Sponsor's Contracts to Purchase Bonds(1)      Provisions(2)     & Poor's    Moody's      Price(4)
<C>          <C> <S>                                              <C>                <C>         <C>        <C>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$   285,000      North Carolina Medical Care Commission Hospital     2003 at 102        AAA         Aaa     $       283,458
                   Revenue Refunding Bonds (Memorial Mission
                   Hospital Project), Series 1993, 5.50% Due
                   10/1/11. (MBIA Insured.)
    500,000      City of Charlotte, North Carolina, General          2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             516,435
                   Obligation Water and Sewer Bonds, Series
                   1994, 5.80% Due 2/1/16.
    500,000     * City of Charlotte, North Carolina, Refunding       2003 at 100        AAA         Aaa             455,615
                   Certificates of Participation (Convention
                   Facility Project), Series 1993C, 5.00% Due
                   12/1/21. (Original issue discount bonds
                   delivered on or about August 25, 1993 at a
                   price of 90.737% of principal amount.)(AMBAC
                   Insured.)
    500,000      City of Fayetteville, North Carolina, Public        2003 at 100        AAA         Aaa             445,675
                   Works Commission Revenue Refunding Bonds,
                   Series 1993, 4.75% Due 3/1/14. (Original
                   issue discount bonds delivered on or about
                   November 23, 1993 at a price of 94.037% of
                   principal amount.)(FGIC Insured.)
    415,000     * City of Gastonia, North Carolina, Street           2005 at 102        AAA         Aaa             400,994
                   Improvement Bonds, Series 1995, 5.30% Due
                   6/1/13. (General Obligation Bonds.) (When
                   issued.) (FGIC Insured.)
    500,000      County of Moore, North Carolina, Certificates       2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             487,485
                   of Participation (1994 Moore County Jail
                   Facilities Project), 5.25% Due 2/1/10. (MBIA
                   Insured.)
    300,000      City of Morganton, North Carolina, Water and        2005 at 102        AAA         Aaa             303,261
                   Sewer Bonds, Series 1995, 5.70% Due 6/1/12.
                   (General Obligation Bonds.) (FGIC Insured.)
    500,000      Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Public Improvement   2005 at 101 1/2      AAA         Aaa             500,000
                   Bonds of 1995 (General Obligation Bonds.),
                   5.75% Due 7/1/24. (MBIA Insured.)
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
$ 3,500,000                                                                                                 $     3,392,923
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
</TABLE>
    
 
See Notes to Schedules of Investments, page 35.
 
   
* These Bonds,  or a  portion thereof,  have delivery  dates beyond  the  normal
  settlement  date. Their  expected delivery dates  range from June  13, 1995 to
  June 19, 1995. Contracts relating to Bonds with delivery dates after the  date
  of   settlement  for  purchase   made  on  the   Date  of  Deposit  constitute
  approximately 26% of the aggregate principal amount of the Trust. (See Section
  4.)
    
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
   
NEW YORK INSURED TRUST 236
    
 
   
    The Portfolio of New York Insured Trust 236 consists of 7 obligations issued
by  entities located in New York and  one obligation issued by an entity located
in the Territory of Puerto Rico. Four Bonds in the Trust are general obligations
of the governmental entities  issuing them and are  backed by the taxing  powers
thereof.  Four Bonds in the Trust are  payable as to principal and interest from
the income of  a specific  project or  authority and  are not  supported by  the
issuer's power to levy taxes. The sources of payment for these Bonds are divided
as  follows: Bridge and Toll Road Revenue,  1; Municipal Lease Revenue, 2; Water
and/or Sewer Revenue, 1. All  of the Bonds in the  Trust, as insured, are  rated
AAA by Standard & Poor's Corporation and Aaa by Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
    
 
   
    At  the Date of Deposit,  the average maturity of the  Bonds in the New York
Insured Trust is 25.0  years. The average  maturity of the Bonds  in a Trust  is
calculated based upon the stated maturities of the Bonds in such Trust (or, with
respect  to Bonds for  which funds or  securities have been  placed in escrow to
redeem such Bonds on a stated call date, based upon such call date). The average
maturity of the Bonds in a Trust may  increase or decrease from time to time  as
Bonds mature or are called or sold.
    
 
   
    Approximately  27.5% of the  aggregate principal amount of  the Bonds in the
Trust (accounting for approximately 23.6% of the aggregate offering price of the
Bonds) are original issue discount obligations. Certain of these original  issue
discount  obligations, amounting to  3.8% of the  aggregate principal amount and
1.0% of  the aggregate  offering price  of the  Bonds in  the Trust,  are  "zero
coupon" bonds. See "GENERAL TRUST INFORMATION--ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT BONDS AND
STRIPPED   OBLIGATIONS"  for  a  discussion   of  the  characteristics  of  such
obligations and of the risks associated therewith.
    
 
    Approximately 28% of  the aggregate  principal amount  of the  Bonds in  the
Trust consists of municipal lease obligations.
 
    For  a discussion of the  risks associated with investments  in the bonds of
various issuers, see "General Trust Information" in this section.
 
   
    The Sponsor entered into contracts to acquire the Bonds on May 30, 1995. The
following summarizes certain information about the Bonds as of the business  day
prior to the Date of Deposit:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRUSTEE'S
                                                               DETERMINATION OF OFFERING PRICE AND
   COST TO    PROFIT (OR LOSS)   ANNUAL INTEREST   BID PRICE              THE BID PRICE
   SPONSOR       TO SPONSOR      INCOME TO TRUST    OF BONDS       (AS % OF PRINCIPAL AMOUNT)
  ----------  -----------------  ----------------  ----------  -----------------------------------
  <S>         <C>                <C>               <C>         <C>
  $3,742,287       $15,926           $213,438      $3,738,588                 .49%
</TABLE>
    
 
    Neither   cost  to  Sponsor  nor  profit   (or  loss)  to  Sponsor  reflects
underwriting profits or losses received or  incurred by the Sponsor through  its
participation   in  underwriting  syndicates.  An  underwriter  or  underwriting
syndicate purchases bonds  from the issuer  on a negotiated  or competitive  bid
basis  as principal with  the motive of  marketing such bonds  to investors at a
profit. The Sponsor did not participate as  either the sole underwriter or as  a
manager  or member of a syndicate that  acted as the original underwriter of any
of the Bonds.
 
   
    Unitholders may  elect to  have interest  distributions made  on a  monthly,
quarterly or semi-annual basis. The interest on the Bonds initially deposited in
the  New York Insured Trust, less estimated  expenses, is estimated to accrue at
the rate of $.01436 per Unit per day under the semi-annual plan of distribution,
$.01431 per Unit per  day under the quarterly  plan of distribution and  $.01422
per  Unit per day under the monthly plan of distribution. It is anticipated that
the   amount   of   interest    to   be   distributed    per   Unit   in    each
    
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
year  under each plan  of distribution will initially  be substantially equal to
the Estimated Net Annual Interest Income per Unit for that plan.
 
    Details of interest  distributions per Unit  of the New  York Insured  Trust
under  the various plans appear in the  following table based upon estimated Net
Annual Interest Income at the Date of Deposit:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                       NORMAL
                                                                                                                   DISTRIBUTIONS
NEW YORK INSURED TRUST                                   1995                                  1996                   PER YEAR
<S>                                     <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------      --------------
Record Date*..........................        7/1            8/1           11/1            2/1            5/1
Distribution Date.....................       7/15           8/15          11/15           2/15           5/15
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monthly Distribution Plan.............  $   .4408(1)                                                               $  5.1202
                                                              --------   $.4266 every month   --------
Quarterly Distribution Plan...........  $   .4408(1)   $   .4293(2)   $  1.2879      $  1.2879      $  1.2879      $  5.1522
Semi-Annual Distribution Plan.........  $   .4408(1)                  $  1.7232(3)                  $  2.5848      $  5.1712
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<FN>
 * Record Dates for semi-annual distributions are May 1 and November 1; for quarterly distributions, they are February 1, May  1,
   August 1 and November 1. Record Dates for monthly distributions are the first day of each month.
(1)  The first distribution will be paid to all Unitholders,  regardless of the distribution plan selected. Such distribution may
    be more or less than a regular monthly distribution.
(2) The  second distribution  under the  quarterly  distribution plan  represents a  1-month distribution;  subsequent  quarterly
    distributions will be regular 3-month distributions.
(3)  The second distribution  under the semi-annual distribution  plan represents a  4-month distribution; subsequent semi-annual
    distributions will be regular 6-month distributions.
</TABLE>
    
 
    The accrual amounts set forth above, and  in turn the amount of interest  to
be  distributed annually per Unit, will  generally change as Bonds are redeemed,
mature or are sold or as fees and expenses increase or decrease.
 
TAX STATUS--NEW YORK INSURED TRUST
 
    For a discussion  of the Federal  tax status  of income earned  on New  York
Insured Trust Units, see Section 11.
 
    In  the opinion of Edwards & Angell,  special counsel for the Series for New
York tax matters, under existing law:
 
        Interest  on  obligations  issued  by   New  York  State,  a   political
    subdivision  thereof, Puerto  Rico, the  Virgin Islands,  Guam, the Northern
    Mariana Islands,  or  other possessions  of  the United  States  within  the
    meaning  of Section 103(c) of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
    ("New York Obligations"), which would be  exempt from New York State or  New
    York  City personal  income tax if  directly received by  a Unitholder, will
    retain its  status as  tax-exempt interest  when received  by the  New  York
    Insured Trust (the "Trust") and distributed to such Unitholder.
 
        Interest  (less amortizable premium, if any) derived from the Trust by a
    resident of New  York State  (or New York  City) in  respect of  obligations
    issued  by states other than New York (or their political subdivisions) will
    be subject to New York State (or New York City) personal income tax.
 
        A Unitholder who is a resident of New York State (or New York City) will
    be subject to New  York State (or  New York City)  personal income tax  with
    respect  to gains realized  when New York  Obligations held in  the New York
    Insured  Trust  are  sold,  redeemed  or  paid  at  maturity  or  when   the
    Unitholder's  Units are sold or redeemed;  such gain will equal the proceeds
    of sale, redemption or payment less the tax basis of the New York Obligation
    or Unit (adjusted to reflect (a) the amortization of premium or discount, if
    any, on New York Obligations held  by the Trust, (b) accrued original  issue
    discount,  with respect to each  New York Obligation which,  at the time the
    New York Obligation  was issued, had  original issue discount,  and (c)  the
    deposit of New York Obligations with accrued interest in the Trust after the
    Unitholder's settlement date).
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
        Interest  or gain from  the Trust derived  by a Unitholder  who is not a
    resident of New York  State (or New  York City) will not  be subject to  New
    York  State (or  New York  City) personal income  tax, unless  the Units are
    property employed in a business, trade, profession or occupation carried  on
    in New York State (or New York City).
 
        In  the case  of the  Trust, amounts  paid under  the insurance policies
    representing maturing interest on defaulted New York Obligations held by the
    Trustee in the Trust  will be excludable  from New York  State and New  York
    City  income if, and  to the same  extent as, such  interest would have been
    excludable if paid by the respective issuer.
 
        For purposes of the New  York State and New  York City franchise tax  on
    corporations,  Unitholders which are subject to such tax will be required to
    include in their entire net income any interest or gains distributed to them
    even  though  distributed  in  respect  of  obligations  of  any  state   or
    subdivision thereof including New York.
 
        If borrowed funds are used to purchase Units in the Trust, all (or part)
    of  the interest on  such indebtedness will  not be deductible  for New York
    State and  New  York  City  tax  purposes. The  purchase  of  Units  may  be
    considered  to have been made with borrowed funds even though such funds are
    not directly traceable to the purchase of Units in any New York Trust.
 
ECONOMIC FACTORS--NEW YORK
 
    The Portfolio of the New York  Insured Trust includes obligations issued  by
New  York State  (the "State"), by  its various public  bodies (the "Agencies"),
and/or by other  entities located within  the State, including  the City of  New
York (the "City").
 
    Some of the more significant events and conditions relating to the financial
situation  in New York are summarized below.  This section provides only a brief
summary of the complex factors affecting the financial situation in New York and
is derived  from  sources that  are  generally  available to  investors  and  is
believed  to  be  accurate. It  is  based  in part  on  Official  Statements and
prospectuses issued by, and on other information reported by the State, the City
and the Agencies in connection with the issuance of their respective securities.
 
    There can  be no  assurance that  current or  future statewide  or  regional
economic  difficulties, and  the resulting impact  on State  or local government
finances generally,  will not  adversely affect  the market  value of  New  York
Municipal  Obligations held  in the  portfolio of  the Trust  or the  ability of
particular obligors to make timely payments of debt service on (or relating  to)
those obligations.
 
    (1)  THE STATE: The State has historically been one of the wealthiest states
in the nation.  For decades, however,  the State economy  has grown more  slowly
than  that of  the nation  as a  whole, gradually  eroding the  State's relative
economic  affluence.  Statewide,  urban  centers  have  experienced  significant
changes involving migration of the more affluent to the suburbs and an influx of
generally  less affluent residents. Regionally,  the older Northeast cities have
suffered because of the relative success that the South and the West have had in
attracting  people  and  business.  The  City  has  also  had  to  face  greater
competition  as  other  major  cities  have  developed  financial  and  business
capabilities  which  make  them  less  dependent  on  the  specialized  services
traditionally available almost exclusively in the City.
 
    The  State has  for many years  had a very  high state and  local tax burden
relative to other states. The burden of State and local taxation, in combination
with the many other causes of regional economic dislocation, has contributed  to
the  decisions of  some businesses and  individuals to relocate  outside, or not
locate within, the State.
 
    SLOWDOWN OF REGIONAL  ECONOMY. A national  recession commenced in  mid-1990.
The  downturn  continued  throughout the  State's  1990-91 fiscal  year  and was
followed by a period
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
   
of weak economic growth during the  1991 calendar year. For calendar year  1992,
the national economy continued to recover, although at a rate below all post-war
recoveries.  For calendar year 1993,  the economy grew faster  than in 1992, but
still at  a  very moderate  rate,  as  compared to  other  recoveries.  Moderate
economic  growth continued  in calendar year  1994. The State  has projected the
rate of economic growth to slow within New York during 1995, as the expansion of
the national economy moderates. Economic recovery started considerably later  in
the  State  than  in the  nation  as a  whole  due  in part  to  the significant
retrenchment in the  banking and  financial services  industries, downsizing  by
several  major corporations, cutbacks in defense  spending, and an oversupply of
office buildings. Many uncertainties exist in forecasts of both the national and
State economies  and there  can be  no  assurance that  the State  economy  will
perform  at a level sufficient  to meet the State's  projections of receipts and
disbursements.
    
 
   
    1995-96 FISCAL YEAR.__The  Governor issued a  proposed Executive Budget  for
the  1995-96  fiscal year  (the "Proposed  Budget") on  February 1,  1995, which
projected a  balanced  general fund  and  receipts and  disbursements  of  $32.5
billion  and  $32.4  billion,  respectively.  As  of  May  29,  1995,  the State
legislature had  not yet  enacted,  nor had  the  Governor and  the  legislature
reached  an agreement on, the budget for the 1995-96 fiscal year which commenced
on April 1, 1995. The delay in the enactment of the budget may negatively affect
certain proposed actions and reduce projected savings.
    
   
    The Proposed Budget and the 1995-96  Financial Plan provide for the  closing
of  a  projected  $4.7  billion  budget  gap  in  the  1995-96  fiscal  year  by
cost-containment savings in social welfare  programs, savings from State  agency
restructurings,  freezing  the level  of some  categories of  local aid  and new
revenue measures.
    
   
    The State's proposed budget and the 1995-96 Plan may be impacted  negatively
by  uncertainties relating to  the economy and  tax collections, although recent
signs of improvement in the national economy could lead to short-term  increases
in State receipts.
    
   
    1994-1995  FISCAL YEAR.__The  State Legislature enacted  the State's 1994-95
fiscal year budget on June 7, 1994, more than two months after the start of that
fiscal year. As of  February 1, 1995, the  updated 1994-95 State Financial  Plan
(the  "Plan") projected total  general fund receipts  and disbursements of $33.3
billion and $33.5 billion, respectively, representing reductions in receipts and
disbursements of $1 billion and $743 million, respectively, from the amount  set
forth  in the 1994-95 budget.  The Plan projected for  a General Fund balance of
approximately $157 million at the close of the 1994-95 fiscal year.
    
   
    1993-94 FISCAL  YEAR.__The  State ended  the  1993-94 fiscal  year  with  an
operating surplus of approximately $1.0 billion.
    
    FUTURE  FISCAL YEARS. There can be no assurance that the State will not face
substantial potential budget  gaps in  the future resulting  from a  significant
disparity  between tax revenues  projected from a  lower recurring receipts base
and the  spending required  to maintain  State programs  at current  levels.  To
address   any  potential  budgetary  imbalance,  the  State  may  need  to  take
significant actions to align recurring receipts and disbursements.
 
   
    INDEBTEDNESS. As of  March 31,  1994, the  total amount  of long-term  State
general obligation debt authorized but unissued stood at $2.0 billion. As of the
same  date, the State had approximately $5.4 billion in general obligation bonds
including $224 million of Bond Anticipation Notes outstanding.
    
 
   
    The State  originally projected  that its  borrowings for  capital  purposes
during  the State's 1994-95 fiscal year would consist of $374 million in general
obligation bonds  and  bond  anticipation  notes and  $140  million  in  general
obligation  commercial paper. The Legislature has  authorized the issuance of up
to $69 million in certificates of participation in pools of leases for equipment
and  real  property  to  be  utilized  by  State  agencies.  Through  March  15,
    
 
                                       24
<PAGE>
   
1995,  the State had issued in excess  of $590 million of its general obligation
bonds (including $430 million of refunding bonds). The projections of the  State
regarding  its borrowings for  any fiscal year  are subject to  change if actual
receipts fall short of State projections or if other circumstances require.
    
   
    In  June  1990,  legislation  was  enacted  creating  the  "New  York  Local
Government  Assistance  Corporation"  ("LGAC"),  a  public  benefit  corporation
empowered to  issue long-term  obligations  to fund  certain payments  to  local
governments  traditionally funded through the State's annual seasonal borrowing.
As of March 31, 1994, LGAC has issued its bonds to provide net proceeds of  $4.5
billion. The LGAC was authorized to provide net proceeds of $315 million, during
the  State's 1994-95 fiscal year. The LGAC issued $347 million of bonds on March
1, 1995 providing the authorized net proceeds.
    
   
    Financing of capital programs  by other public authorities  of the State  is
also   obtained   from  lease-purchase   and   contractual-obligation  financing
arrangements, the debt service for which  is paid from State appropriations.  As
of March 31, 1994, there were $16.6 billion of such other financing arrangements
outstanding  and additional financings of this  nature by public authorities are
projected to total  $2.4 billion during  the 1994-95 fiscal  year. In  addition,
certain agencies had issued and outstanding approximately $7.3 billion of "moral
obligation financings" as of March 31, 1994, which are to be repaid from project
revenues.  While there has never been a  default on moral obligation debt of the
State, the State would be required to make up any shortfall in debt service.
    
   
    RATINGS.  The $850 million in TRANS  issued by the State in April 1993  were
rated  SP-1-Plus by S&P and MIG-1 by Moody's which represent the highest ratings
given by such agencies and the first time the State's TRANS have received  these
ratings  since  its May  1989 TRANS  issuance. Both  agencies cited  the State's
improved fiscal position as a significant  factor in the upgrading of the  April
1993 TRANS.
    
 
   
    Moody's  rating  of  the State's  general  obligation  bonds stood  at  A on
February 28, 1994,  and S&P's  rating stood  at A-  with a  positive outlook  on
February  28, 1994,  an improvement  from S&P's  stable outlook  from April 1993
through February  1994 and  negative outlook  prior to  April 1993.  Previously,
Moody's lowered its rating to A on June 6, 1990, its rating having been A1 since
May  27, 1986. S&P  lowered its rating from  A to A- on  January 13, 1992. S&P's
previous ratings were A from March 1990 to January 1992, AA- from August 1987 to
March 1990 and A+ from November 1982 to August 1987.
    
 
   
    Moody's maintained  its  A  rating  and  S&P  continued  its  A-  rating  in
connection  with the State's issuance of  $537 million of its general obligation
bonds in March 1995.
    
   
    (2) THE  CITY AND  THE MUNICIPAL  ASSISTANCE CORPORATION  ("MAC"): The  City
accounts  for approximately 40%  of the State's  population and personal income,
and the City's financial health affects the State in numerous ways.
    
 
    In response to the City's fiscal crisis in 1975, the State took a number  of
steps  to assist the City in returning to fiscal stability. Among other actions,
the State Legislature (i) created MAC to assist with long-term financing for the
City's short-term debt and  other cash requirements and  (ii) created the  State
Financial  Control Board (the "Control Board")  to review and approve the City's
budgets and City four-year  financial plans (the financial  plans also apply  to
certain City-related public agencies (the "Covered Organizations")).
 
   
    In   recent  years,  the  rate  of   economic  growth  in  the  City  slowed
substantially as the City's economy entered a recession. While by some  measures
the  City's economy may  have begun to  recover, a number  of factors, including
poor performance  by the  City's  financial services  companies, may  prevent  a
significant improvement in the City's economy and may
    
 
                                       25
<PAGE>
   
in fact negatively impact upon the City's finances by reducing tax receipts. The
City  Comptroller has issued reports concluding that the recession of the City's
economy may  be  ending,  but  there  is  little  prospect  of  any  significant
improvement in the near term.
    
   
    FISCAL  YEAR 1996 AND  THE 1995-1998 FINANCIAL  PLAN.__On February 14, 1995,
the Mayor released his  preliminary $30.5 billion budget  for fiscal year  1996,
which  included $2.7 billion of deficit reduction measures. The Mayor is seeking
a $1.2 billion reduction in mandated welfare and Medicaid expenditures from  the
State,  a $569 million reduction in expenditures  by city agencies and the Board
of Education budget, $600  million in personnel  related savings partly  through
the elimination of 15,000 jobs within 18 months, and other measures.
    
   
    The  1995-1998  Financial  Plan (the  "Plan"),  which was  submitted  to the
Control Board on February  23, 1995, projected budget  gaps of $3.2 billion  and
$3.8  billion for fiscal years 1997 and 1998, respectively. The City Comptroller
warned on March 7, 1995 that the budget gap for fiscal year 1996 could  increase
by  $500 million to as much as $3.2 billion. The Control Board reported on March
17, 1995 that the proposed budget for  fiscal year 1996 relies heavily on  risky
assumptions  such as $600 million  in savings to be  negotiated with City unions
and $1.4 billion in savings dependent on State legislative approval.
    
   
    The City  successfully negotiated  concessions with  a number  of unions  in
order  to ensure that the fiscal year 1995 budget remained in balance. The Mayor
has indicated that to avoid additional lay-offs, higher than the number referred
to above, reductions will be necessary in the benefit plans of City employees to
close the budget gaps for fiscal years 1996 and thereafter. Union leadership has
publicly opposed such "givebacks". With respect to fiscal year 1995 the City was
also successful in obtaining additional  funds and relief from certain  mandated
expenditures  from the State for  various programs, including Medicaid. However,
the amount of gap closing measures requiring State action set forth in the  Plan
is  well in excess of proposed assistance to the City outlined in the Governor's
Proposed Budget.
    
   
    The Mayor has directed City agencies to identify an additional $300  million
in  cuts for fiscal  year 1996 because  of anticipated shortfalls  of as much as
$500 million in State aid and budgetary actions. An extended delay by the  State
in  adopting its  1995-96 fiscal  year budget  would negatively  impact upon the
City's financial condition  and ability to  close budget gaps  for fiscal  years
1996 and thereafter.
    
    Given  the foregoing factors, there  can be no assurance  that the City will
continue to  maintain a  balanced budget,  or that  it can  maintain a  balanced
budget  without additional tax or other  revenue increases or reductions in City
services, which could adversely affect the City's economic base.
 
    Pursuant to State law, the City prepares a four-year annual financial  plan,
which is reviewed and revised on a quarterly basis and which includes the City's
capital,  revenue and  expense projections. The  City is required  to submit its
financial plans to review bodies, including the Control Board. If the City  were
to  experience certain adverse financial circumstances, including the occurrence
or the  substantial likelihood  and imminence  of the  occurrence of  an  annual
operating  deficit of more than $100 million or the loss of access to the public
credit  markets  to   satisfy  the   City's  capital   and  seasonal   financial
requirements,  the  Control Board  would be  required by  State law  to exercise
certain powers,  including  prior approval  of  City financial  plans,  proposed
borrowings and certain contracts.
 
   
    The  City depends  on the  State for State  aid both  to enable  the City to
balance its budget and to meet  its cash requirements. If the State  experiences
revenue  shortfalls  or spending  increases  beyond its  projections  during its
1995-96 fiscal  year or  subsequent  years, such  developments could  result  in
reductions  in projected  State aid to  the City.  In addition, there  can be no
assurance that  State budgets  in the  1996-97 or  future fiscal  years will  be
adopted
    
 
                                       26
<PAGE>
by  the April 1 statutory deadline and that there will not be adverse effects on
the City's  cash flow  and additional  City  expenditures as  a result  of  such
delays.
 
   
    The  City projections set forth in the Plan are based on various assumptions
and contingencies which are uncertain and which may not materialize. Changes  in
major  assumptions could significantly affect the  City's ability to balance its
budget as required by State law and  to meet its annual cash flow and  financing
requirements.  Such  assumptions and  contingencies  include the  timing  of any
regional and local economic recovery, the absence of wage increases in excess of
the increases assumed  in its  financial plan, employment  growth, provision  of
State  and Federal aid and mandate  relief, State legislative approval of future
State budgets, levels of education expenditures as may be required by State law,
adoption of future City budgets  by the New York  City Council, and approval  by
the Governor or the State Legislature and the cooperation of MAC with respect to
various other actions proposed in the Plan.
    
   
    The  City's ability to maintain a  balanced operating budget is dependant on
whether it  can implement  necessary service  and personnel  reduction  programs
successfully.  As discussed above, the City must identify additional expenditure
reductions and revenue sources to achieve balanced operating budgets for  fiscal
years  1996 and  thereafter. Any  such proposed  expenditure reductions  will be
difficult to implement  because of  their size and  the substantial  expenditure
reductions already imposed on City operations in the past two years.
    
 
   
    Attaining  a balanced  budget is also  dependent upon the  City's ability to
market its  securities successfully  in the  public credit  markets. The  City's
financing  program  for  fiscal  years 1995  through  1998  contemplates capital
spending of $16.4  billion, which  will be  financed through  issuance of  $10.7
billion  of general  obligation bonds  and the  balance through  Water Authority
Revenue Bonds  and  Covered  Organization  obligations,  and  will  be  utilized
primarily to reconstruct and rehabilitate the City's infrastructure and physical
assets  and  to make  capital investments.  A significant  portion of  such bond
financing is used to reimburse the City's general fund for capital  expenditures
already  incurred. In  addition, the  City issues  revenue and  tax anticipation
notes to  finance  its seasonal  working  capital requirements.  The  terms  and
success  of projected  public sales of  City general obligation  bonds and notes
will be subject to prevailing market conditions at the time of the sale, and  no
assurance can be given that the credit markets will absorb the projected amounts
of  public bond and note sales.  In addition, future developments concerning the
City and public  discussion of  such developments, the  City's future  financial
needs  and  other issues  may  affect the  market  for outstanding  City general
obligation bonds  and  notes.  If the  City  were  unable to  sell  its  general
obligation  bonds  and notes,  it would  be prevented  from meeting  its planned
operating and capital expenditures.
    
 
   
    FISCAL YEAR 1995.__  New York City  adopted its fiscal  year 1995 budget  on
June  21, 1994, which provided for spending of $31.6 billion and closed a budget
gap of $2.3 billion. However, following adoption of the fiscal year 1995 budget,
additional unexpected  budget  gaps  totaling approximately  $2.0  billion  were
identified.  The widening of the  budget gap for fiscal  year 1995 resulted from
shortfalls in tax revenues  and State and  federal aid. The  Mayor and the  City
Council  were unable to reach agreement on additional cuts proposed by the Mayor
in October 1994. The City Council passed its own budget cut proposal in November
1994. The Mayor vetoed the City  Council version, the City Council overrode  his
veto and the Mayor implemented his original plan. A state court held in December
1994  that  neither budget  cut proposal  could be  implemented. The  Mayor then
elected not to spend certain funds in order to keep the budget in balance.
    
   
    FISCAL YEARS  1990  THROUGH 1994.    The City  achieved  balanced  operating
results  as reported in accordance  with GAAP for its  fiscal years 1990 through
1994. The City was
    
 
                                       27
<PAGE>
   
required to close  substantial budget  gaps in  these fiscal  years to  maintain
balanced operating results.
    
   
    The City is a defendant in a significant number of lawsuits. Such litigation
includes,  but is not limited to,  actions commenced and claims asserted against
the City arising out  of alleged constitutional  violations, torts, breaches  of
contracts,  and other violations of law  and condemnation proceedings. While the
ultimate outcome and fiscal  impact, if any, on  the proceedings and claims  are
not  currently predictable, adverse determinations in certain of them might have
a material adverse  effect upon the  City's ability to  carry out its  financial
plan.  As of June 30, 1994, the City estimated its potential future liability to
be $2.6 billion.
    
   
    On January  30, 1995,  Robert L.  Schulz and  other defendants  commenced  a
federal district court action seeking among other matters to cancel the issuance
on January 31, 1995 of $659 million of City bonds. While the federal courts have
rejected  requests for temporary  restraining orders and  expedited appeals, the
case is still pending. The City has indicated that it believes the action to  be
without merit as it relates to the City, but there can be no assurance as to the
outcome  of the litigation and an adverse  ruling or the granting of a permanent
injunction would have a  negative impact on the  City's financial condition  and
its ability to fund its operations.
    
    RATINGS.   As of the  date of this prospectus,  Moody's rating of the City's
general obligation bonds stood at Baa1 and S&P's rating stood at A-. On February
11, 1991, Moody's had lowered its rating from A.
 
   
    On March 13, 1995,  Moody's confirmed its Baa1  rating in connection with  a
scheduled  March  1995 sale  of $795  million of  the City's  general obligation
bonds.
    
   
    S&P  confirmed  its  rating  of  the  City's  general  obligation  bonds  in
connection  with the City's $795 million  general obligation bond issue in March
1995. In January 1995, in response to the City's plan to borrow $120 million  to
refund  debt due in February without imposing additional cuts in the fiscal 1995
budget, S&P placed the City on negative credit watch and indicated that in April
1995 it would  consider a possible  downgrade of the  City's general  obligation
debt  from A- to BBB.  At the end of March  1995, concerned by published reports
that the Mayor might not produce his executive budget for fiscal year 1996,  S&P
suggested that the Mayor should prepare "a budget-balancing contingency plan" or
face  the possibility of downgrade of the City's general obligation bonds. As of
May 22, 1995,  S&P had not  announced any change  in its ratings  of the  City's
debt.  Any such rating decrease would negatively affect the marketability of the
City's bonds and significantly increase the City's financing costs.
    
    On October 12, 1993, Moody's increased its rating of the City's issuance  of
$650  million of Tax Anticipation  Notes ("TANs") to MIG-1  from MIG-2. Prior to
that date, on May  9, 1990, Moody's revised  downward its rating on  outstanding
City  revenue anticipation notes from MIG-1 to  MIG-2 and rated the $900 million
Notes then  being  sold MIG-2.  S&P's  rating of  the  October 1993  TANS  issue
increased  to SP-1 from SP-2. Prior to that date, on April 29, 1991, S&P revised
downward its rating on City revenue anticipation notes from SP-1 to SP-2.
 
   
    As of December 31, 1994, the  City and MAC had, respectively, $22.5  billion
and $4.1 billion of outstanding net long-term indebtedness.
    
 
    (3) THE STATE AGENCIES: Certain Agencies of the State have faced substantial
financial difficulties which could adversely affect the ability of such Agencies
to  make payments  of interest  on, and  principal amounts  of, their respective
bonds. The  difficulties  have in  certain  instances caused  the  State  (under
so-called   "moral  obligation"  provisions   which  are  non-binding  statutory
provisions for State  appropriations to  maintain various  debt service  reserve
funds)  to appropriate funds on behalf of the Agencies. Moreover, it is expected
that
 
                                       28
<PAGE>
the problems faced by these Agencies  will continue and will require  increasing
amounts of State assistance in future years. Failure of the State to appropriate
necessary  amounts  or to  take  other action  to  permit those  Agencies having
financial difficulties to meet  their obligations could result  in a default  by
one  or more of the Agencies. Such default, if it were to occur, would be likely
to have a significant  adverse effect on investor  confidence in, and  therefore
the  market price of,  obligations of the defaulting  Agencies. In addition, any
default in payment on any general obligation of any Agency whose bonds contain a
moral obligation provision could constitute a failure of certain conditions that
must be  satisfied  in  connection  with Federal  guarantees  of  City  and  MAC
obligations and could thus jeopardize the City's long-term financing plans.
 
   
    As  of  September 30,  1993,  the State  reported  that there  were eighteen
Agencies that each had outstanding debt of $100 million or more and an aggregate
of $63.5  billion  of  outstanding  debt, some  of  which  was  state-supported,
state-related debt.
    
    (4) STATE LITIGATION: The State is a defendant in numerous legal proceedings
pertaining  to  matters incidental  to the  performance of  routine governmental
operations. Such litigation  includes, but  is not limited  to, claims  asserted
against  the State  arising from alleged  torts, alleged  breaches of contracts,
condemnation proceedings and other alleged violations of State and Federal laws.
Included in the State's outstanding litigation are a number of cases challenging
the constitutionality  or  the  adequacy  and  effectiveness  of  a  variety  of
significant  social  welfare  programs primarily  involving  the  State's mental
hygiene programs. Adverse judgments in  these matters generally could result  in
injunctive  relief coupled with prospective changes  in patient care which could
require substantial increased financing of the litigated programs in the future.
 
    The State  is  also engaged  in  a  variety of  claims  wherein  significant
monetary  damages are sought. Actions commenced  by several Indian nations claim
that significant amounts of land were unconstitutionally taken from the  Indians
in  violation  of  various treaties  and  agreements during  the  eighteenth and
nineteenth centuries. The claimants seek  recovery of approximately six  million
acres of land as well as compensatory and punitive damages.
 
   
    The   State  has  entered   into  a  settlement   agreement  with  Delaware,
Massachusetts and all other parties with  respect to STATE OF DELAWARE V.  STATE
OF  NEW  YORK, an  action  by Delaware  and  other states  to  recover unclaimed
property from New York-based brokers, which has escheated to the State  pursuant
to  its ABANDONED  PROPERTY LAW. Annual  payments under this  settlement will be
made through the  State's 2002-03  fiscal year  in amounts  not exceeding  $48.4
million in any fiscal year subsequent to the State's 1994-95 fiscal year.
    
    In  SCHULZ V.  STATE OF  NEW YORK, commenced  May 24,  1993 ("SCHULZ 1993"),
petitioners have challenged the constitutionality of mass transportation bonding
programs  of  the  New  York  State  Thruway  Authority  and  the   Metropolitan
Transportation  Authority. On  May 24, 1993,  the Supreme  Court, Albany County,
temporarily enjoined the State from implementing those bonding programs.
 
   
    Petitioners in SCHULZ asserted that issuance of bonds by the two Authorities
is subject to approval  by statewide referendum. By  decision dated October  21,
1993,  the  Appellate  Division, Third  Department,  affirmed the  order  of the
Supreme Court, Albany County, granting the State's motion for summary  judgment,
dismissing  the complaint and vacating the  temporary restraining order. On June
30, 1994, the Court of Appeals, the State's highest court, upheld the  decisions
of  the Supreme Court  and Appellate Division in  SCHULZ, Plaintiffs' motion for
reargument was denied by  the Court of  Appeals on September  1, 1994 and  their
writ of certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court was denied on January 23, 1995.
    
    Adverse  developments in the foregoing  proceedings or new proceedings could
adversely affect the financial condition of the State in the future.
 
                                       29
<PAGE>
    (5) OTHER MUNICIPALITIES: Certain  localities in addition  to New York  City
could   have  financial  problems  leading  to  requests  for  additional  State
assistance. The potential impact on the  State of such actions by localities  is
not  included in projections  of State receipts and  expenditures in the State's
1994-95 fiscal years.
 
    Fiscal difficulties experienced by the City of Yonkers ("Yonkers")  resulted
in  the creation  of the Financial  Control Board  for the City  of Yonkers (the
"Yonkers Board")  by  the State  in  1984. The  Yonkers  Board is  charged  with
oversight of the fiscal affairs of Yonkers. Future actions taken by the Governor
or  the State Legislature to assist Yonkers  could result in allocation of State
resources in amounts that cannot yet be determined.
 
   
    Municipalities and school districts  have engaged in substantial  short-term
and  long-term borrowings. In 1992, the  total indebtedness of all localities in
the State was approximately  $35.2 billion, of which  $19.5 billion was debt  of
New  York City  (excluding $5.9  billion in  MAC debt).  State law  requires the
Comptroller to review and make  recommendations concerning the budgets of  those
local government units other than New York City authorized by State law to issue
debt  to  finance deficits  during  the period  that  such deficit  financing is
outstanding.  Seventeen  localities  had  outstanding  indebtedness  for   state
financing at the close of their fiscal year ending in 1992.
    
    Certain  proposed Federal  expenditure reductions  could reduce,  or in some
cases eliminate, Federal funding  of some local  programs and accordingly  might
impose substantial increased expenditure requirements on affected localities. If
the State, New York City or any of the Agencies were to suffer serious financial
difficulties  jeopardizing their respective access to the public credit markets,
the marketability of  notes and  bonds issued  by localities  within the  State,
including  notes or  bonds in  the New  York Insured  Trust, could  be adversely
affected. Localities also face anticipated and potential problems resulting from
certain pending litigation, judicial decisions, and long-range economic  trends.
The  longer-range potential  problems of declining  urban population, increasing
expenditures, and other  economic trends could  adversely affect localities  and
require increasing State assistance in the future.
 
    (6)  OTHER ISSUERS OF NEW YORK MUNICIPAL  OBLIGATIONS. There are a number of
other agencies, instrumentalities and political  subdivisions of the State  that
issue  Municipal Obligations, some  of which may  be conduit revenue obligations
payable from  payments from  private borrowers.  These entities  are subject  to
various  economic  risks  and  uncertainties,  and  the  credit  quality  of the
securities issued  by them  may vary  considerably from  the credit  quality  of
obligations backed by the full faith and credit of the State.
 
                                       30
<PAGE>
NEW YORK TAXABLE ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN TABLE
 
    The  following tables show the approximate taxable estimated current returns
for individuals  that are  equivalent to  tax-exempt estimated  current  returns
under  combined Federal,  state and local  taxes, using  published 1995 marginal
Federal tax rates and marginal state and local tax rates currently available and
scheduled to  be in  effect.  The tables  incorporate  increased tax  rates  for
higher-income  taxpayers that were included in the Revenue Reconciliation Act of
1993. For cases  in which  two state  or local  brackets fall  within a  federal
bracket, the higher state or local bracket is combined with the federal bracket.
The  combined local, state and Federal tax  brackets shown reflect the fact that
state and local tax payments are currently deductible for Federal tax  purposes.
The  tables illustrate  what you  would have to  earn on  taxable investments to
equal the tax-exempt  estimated current return  for your income  tax bracket.  A
taxpayer's  marginal tax  rate is  affected by both  his taxable  income and his
adjusted gross income. Locate your adjusted gross and your taxable income (which
is your adjusted gross  income reduced by any  deductions and exemptions),  then
locate  your tax bracket based on joint or single tax filing. Read across to the
equivalent taxable estimated current return you would need to match the tax-free
income.
 
I.  COMBINED FEDERAL AND NEW YORK STATE INCOME TAXES
 
 COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR JOINT TAXPAYERS WITH FOUR PERSONAL EXEMPTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED      COMBINED
    TAXABLE        GROSS       STATE AND                   TAX-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      4.75%   5.00%   5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%   6.50%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 39.0 $     0-100.0     21.5    %     6.05    6.37    6.69    7.01    7.32    7.64    7.96    8.28
                 100.0-114.7     22.5          6.13    6.45    6.77    7.10    7.42    7.74    8.06    8.39
    39.0- 94.3       0-100.0     33.5          7.14    7.52    7.89    8.27    8.65    9.02    9.40    9.77
                 100.0-114.7     34.5          7.25    7.63    8.02    8.40    8.78    9.16    9.54    9.92
                 114.7-150.0     35.0          7.31    7.69    8.08    8.46    8.85    9.23    9.62   10.00
                 150.0-172.1     34.0          7.20    7.58    7.95    8.33    8.71    9.09    9.47    9.85
    94.3-143.6       0-100.0     36.0          7.42    7.81    8.20    8.59    8.98    9.38    9.77   10.16
                 100.0-114.7     37.0          7.54    7.94    8.33    8.73    9.13    9.52    9.92   10.32
                 114.7-150.0     38.0          7.66    8.06    8.47    8.87    9.27    9.68   10.08   10.48
                 150.0-172.1     37.0          7.54    7.94    8.33    8.73    9.13    9.52    9.92   10.32
                 172.1-294.6     39.5          7.85    8.26    8.68    9.09    9.50    9.92   10.33   10.74
   143.6-256.5   114.7-150.0     42.5          8.26    8.70    9.13    9.57   10.00   10.43   10.87   11.30
                 150.0-172.1     42.0          8.19    8.62    9.05    9.48    9.91   10.34   10.78   11.21
                 172.1-294.6     44.5          8.56    9.01    9.46    9.91   10.36   10.81   11.26   11.71
                  Over 294.6     42.0    2     8.19    8.62    9.05    9.48    9.91   10.34   10.78   11.21
    Over 256.5   172.1-294.6     48.0          9.13    9.62   10.10   10.58   11.06   11.54   12.02   12.50
                  Over 294.6     45.5    3     8.72    9.17    9.63   10.09   10.55   11.01   11.47   11.93
</TABLE>
 
  COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR SINGLE TAXPAYERS WITH ONE PERSONAL EXEMPTION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED      COMBINED
    TAXABLE        GROSS       STATE AND                   TAX-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      4.75%   5.00%   5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%   6.50%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 23.4 $     0-100.0     21.5    %     6.05    6.37    6.69    7.01    7.32    7.64    7.96    8.28
                 100.0-114.7     22.0          6.09    6.41    6.73    7.05    7.37    7.69    8.01    8.33
    23.4- 56.6       0-100.0     33.5          7.14    7.52    7.89    8.27    8.65    9.02    9.40    9.77
                 100.0-114.7     34.0          7.20    7.58    7.95    8.33    8.71    9.09    9.47    9.85
    56.6-118.0       0-100.0     36.0          7.42    7.81    8.20    8.59    8.98    9.38    9.77   10.16
                 100.0-114.7     36.5          7.48    7.87    8.27    8.66    9.06    9.45    9.84   10.24
                 114.7-150.0     38.0          7.66    8.06    8.47    8.87    9.27    9.68   10.08   10.48
                 150.0-237.2     37.5          7.60    8.00    8.40    8.80    9.20    9.60   10.00   10.40
   118.0-256.5   114.7-150.0     43.0          8.33    8.77    9.21    9.65   10.09   10.53   10.96   11.40
                 150.0-237.2     42.5          8.26    8.70    9.13    9.57   10.00   10.43   10.87   11.30
                  Over 237.2     42.0    2     8.19    8.62    9.05    9.48    9.91   10.34   10.78   11.21
    Over 256.5    Over 237.2     45.5    3     8.72    9.17    9.63   10.09   10.55   11.01   11.47   11.93
</TABLE>
 
                                       31
<PAGE>
II. COMBINED FEDERAL, NEW YORK STATE AND NEW YORK CITY INCOME TAXES
 
 COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR JOINT TAXPAYERS WITH FOUR PERSONAL EXEMPTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL      COMBINED
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED       STATE,
    TAXABLE        GROSS         LOCAL                     TAX-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME      AND FEDERAL     --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      4.75%   5.00%   5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%   6.50%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 39.0 $     0-100.0     25.0    %     6.33    6.67    7.00    7.33    7.67    8.00    8.33    8.67
                 100.0-114.7     26.0          6.42    6.76    7.09    7.43    7.77    8.11    8.45    8.78
    39.0- 94.3       0-100.0     36.5          7.48    7.87    8.27    8.66    9.06    9.45    9.84   10.24
                 100.0-114.7     37.5          7.60    8.00    8.40    8.80    9.20    9.60   10.00   10.40
                 114.7-150.0     38.0          7.66    8.06    8.47    8.87    9.27    9.68   10.08   10.48
                 150.0-172.1     37.5          7.60    8.00    8.40    8.80    9.20    9.60   10.00   10.40
    94.3-143.6       0-100.0     39.5          7.85    8.26    8.68    9.09    9.50    9.92   10.33   10.74
                 100.0-114.7     40.0          7.92    8.33    8.75    9.17    9.58   10.00   10.42   10.83
                 114.7-150.0     41.0          8.05    8.47    8.90    9.32    9.75   10.17   10.59   11.02
                 150.0-172.1     40.0          7.92    8.33    8.75    9.17    9.58   10.00   10.42   10.83
                 172.1-294.6     42.5          8.26    8.70    9.13    9.57   10.00   10.43   10.87   11.30
   143.6-256.5   114.7-150.0     45.5          8.72    9.17    9.63   10.09   10.55   11.01   11.47   11.93
                 150.0-172.1     44.5          8.56    9.01    9.46    9.91   10.36   10.81   11.26   11.71
                 172.1-294.6     47.0          8.96    9.43    9.91   10.38   10.85   11.32   11.79   12.26
                  Over 294.6     44.5    2     8.56    9.01    9.46    9.91   10.36   10.81   11.26   11.71
    Over 256.5   172.1-294.6     50.5          9.60   10.10   10.61   11.11   11.62   12.12   12.63   13.13
                  Over 294.6     48.0    3     9.13    9.62   10.10   10.58   11.06   11.54   12.02   12.50
</TABLE>
 
  COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR SINGLE TAXPAYERS WITH ONE PERSONAL EXEMPTION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL      COMBINED
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED       STATE,
    TAXABLE        GROSS         LOCAL                     TAX-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME      AND FEDERAL     --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      4.75%   5.00%   5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%   6.50%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 23.4 $     0-100.0     25.0    %     6.33    6.67    7.00    7.33    7.67    8.00    8.33    8.67
                 100.0-114.7     25.5          6.38    6.71    7.05    7.38    7.72    8.05    8.39    8.72
    23.4- 56.6       0-100.0     36.5          7.48    7.87    8.27    8.66    9.06    9.45    9.84   10.24
                 100.0-114.7     37.0          7.54    7.94    8.33    8.73    9.13    9.52    9.92   10.32
    56.6-118.0       0-100.0     39.5          7.85    8.26    8.68    9.09    9.50    9.92   10.33   10.74
                 100.0-114.7     39.5          7.85    8.26    8.68    9.09    9.50    9.92   10.33   10.74
                 114.7-150.0     41.0          8.05    8.47    8.90    9.32    9.75   10.17   10.59   11.02
                 150.0-237.2     40.5          7.98    8.40    8.82    9.24    9.66   10.08   10.50   10.92
   118.0-256.5   114.7-150.0     45.5          8.72    9.17    9.63   10.09   10.55   11.01   11.47   11.93
                 150.0-237.2     45.5          8.72    9.17    9.63   10.09   10.55   11.01   11.47   11.93
                  Over 237.2     44.5    2     8.56    9.01    9.46    9.91   10.36   10.81   11.26   11.71
    Over 256.5    Over 237.2     48.0    3     9.13    9.62   10.10   10.58   11.06   11.54   12.02   12.50
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>         <C>
<FN>
- ------------------
      1 The table reflects the effect of the limitations  on itemized deductions and the deduction for personal exemptions.  They
were  designed to phase out certain benefits of these deductions for higher income taxpayers. These limitations, in effect, raise
the marginal Federal tax rate  to approximately 44.0 percent for  taxpayers filing a joint return  and entitled to four  personal
exemptions  and to approximately 41.0 percent for taxpayers filing a single return entitled to only one personal exemption. These
limitations are subject  to certain  maximums, which depend  on the  number of  exemptions claimed and  the total  amount of  the
taxpayer's  itemized deductions. For example, the limitation  on itemized deductions will not cause  a taxpayer to lose more than
80% of his allowable itemized deductions, with certain exceptions. The table also reflects the New York State supplemental income
tax based upon a taxpayer's New York State taxable income and New York State adjusted gross income. This supplemental tax results
in an increased marginal state  income tax rate to the  extent a taxpayer's New York  State adjusted gross income ranges  between
$100,000  and $150,000. The table  does not, however, reflect  the amendments to the  New York State income  tax law that imposes
limitations on the deductibility of itemized deductions. The application of the New York State limitation on itemized  deductions
may result in a higher combined Federal, State and local tax rate than indicated in the table. The table assumes for this purpose
that a taxpayer's New York State adjusted income equals his Federal adjusted gross income.
      2 Federal tax rate reverts to 36.0% after the 80% cap on the limitation on itemized deductions has been met.
      3 Federal tax rate reverts to 39.6% after the 80% cap on the limitation on itemized deductions has been met.
</TABLE>
 
                                       32
<PAGE>
    A  comparison of tax-free  and equivalent taxable  estimated current returns
with the returns on  various taxable investments is  one element to consider  in
making  an  investment  decision. The  Sponsor  may  from time  to  time  in its
advertising and sales materials  compare the then  current estimated returns  on
the Trust and returns over specified periods on other similar Nuveen Trusts with
returns  on taxable investments such as corporate or U.S. Government bonds, bank
CD's and  money  market  accounts or  money  market  funds, each  of  which  has
investment  characteristics  that  may  differ from  those  of  the  Trust. U.S.
Government bonds, for example, are  backed by the full  faith and credit of  the
U.S. Government and bank CD's and money market accounts are insured by an agency
of  the federal government. Money market accounts and money market funds provide
stability of principal, but pay interest  at rates that vary with the  condition
of  the short-term debt market. The  investment characteristics of the Trust are
described more fully elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
                                       33
<PAGE>
   
NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AT DATE OF DEPOSIT
MAY 31, 1995
NEW YORK INSURED TRUST 236
(SERIES 805)
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          Ratings(3)           Trustee's
                                                                      Optional       ---------------------   Determination
 Aggregate        Name of Issuer and Title of Issue Represented      Redemption       Standard                of Offering
  Principal        by Sponsor's Contracts to Purchase Bonds(1)      Provisions(2)     & Poor's    Moody's      Price(4)
<C>          <C> <S>                                              <C>                <C>         <C>        <C>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$   600,000      New York State Medical Care Facilities Finance      2005 at 102        AAA         Aaa     $       608,250
                   Agency, Mental Health Services Facilities
                   Improvement Revenue Bonds, 1995 Series A,
                   6.00% Due 2/15/25. (General Obligation
                   Bonds.)
    600,000      New York State Urban Development Corporation,       2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             578,496
                   Correctional Facilities Revenue Bonds, 1993A
                   Refunding Series, 5.50% Due 1/1/16.
    150,000      The City of New York, General Obligation Bonds,  No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa              39,441
                   Fiscal 1994 Series E, 0.00% Due 8/1/18.
                   (Original issue discount bonds delivered on
                   or about December 29, 1993 at a price of
                   23.371% of principal amount.)
    350,000      The City of New York (New York), General          2003 at 101 1/2      AAA         Aaa             325,560
                   Obligation Bonds, Fiscal 1994 Series C,
                   5.375% Due 10/1/21. (Original issue discount
                   bonds delivered on or about October 14, 1993
                   at a price of 94.15% of principal amount.)
    500,000      Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New          2003 at 102        AAA         Aaa             486,440
                   York), Commuter Facilities 1987 Service
                   Contract Bonds, Series 7, 5.625% Due 7/1/16.
    600,000      New York City (New York), Municipal Water         2004 at 101 1/2      AAA         Aaa             597,000
                   Finance Authority, Water and Sewer System
                   Revenue Bonds, Fixed Rate Fiscal 1994 Series
                   F, 5.75% Due 6/15/20.
    600,000      Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (New         2004 at 100        AAA         Aaa             523,026
                   York), General Purpose Revenue Bonds, Series
                   1994A, 4.75% Due 1/1/19. (Original issue
                   discount bonds delivered on or about February
                   15, 1994 at a price of 93.225% of principal
                   amount.)
    600,000      Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Public Improvement   2005 at 101 1/2      AAA         Aaa             600,000
                   Bonds of 1995 (General Obligation Bonds.),
                   5.75% Due 7/1/24.
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
$ 4,000,000                                                                                                 $     3,758,213
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
</TABLE>
    
 
See Notes to Schedules of Investments, page 35.
 
                                       34
<PAGE>
NOTES TO SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS
 
    (1) Contracts,  which  are  "when-issued"  or  "regular  way"  contracts  or
        contracts having delivery dates beyond the normal settlement date,  have
        been  deposited with the Trustee on the Date of Deposit. The performance
        of such contracts is secured by an irrevocable letter of credit,  issued
        by  a major commercial bank, which  has been deposited with the Trustee.
        At the Date  of Deposit, Bonds  may have been  delivered to the  Sponsor
        pursuant  to certain of these contracts; the Sponsor has assigned to the
        Trustee all of its right, title and interest in and to such Bonds.
 
    (2) The Bonds are first subject to optional redemption in the years, and  at
        the  prices, shown.  Unless otherwise  indicated, the  Bonds, except for
        Bonds issued at a substantial original issue discount, are redeemable at
        declining prices (but not below par value) in subsequent years. Original
        issue  discount  bonds,  including  zero  coupon  bonds,  are  generally
        redeemable  at  prices  based on  the  issue  price plus  the  amount of
        original issue discount accreted to redemption plus, if applicable, some
        premium, the amount of which will decline in subsequent years. The Bonds
        may also be subject to sinking fund redemption without premium prior  to
        the dates shown.
 
        Certain  Bonds may be subject to redemption without premium prior to the
        date shown  pursuant  to  special  or  mandatory  call  provisions;  for
        example,  if bond proceeds are not able  to be used as contemplated, the
        project is condemned or sold, or the project is destroyed and  insurance
        proceeds  are used to  redeem the bonds.  Single family mortgage revenue
        bonds and housing authority bonds are  most likely to be called  subject
        to  such provisions, but other bonds may have similar call features. See
        Section 4 and "General Trust Information" in this Section.
 
        The Trustee's determination of the offering prices of Bonds in the  Fund
        may  be  greater or  less than  the  amounts that  may be  received upon
        redemption or  maturity  of  such Bonds.  Subject  to  rules  concerning
        amortization  of bond  premium and of  original issue  discount, gain or
        loss realized  by  the Trustee  on  disposition  of any  Bonds  will  be
        recognized  as taxable capital gain or loss by Unitholders. (See Section
        4.)
 
    (3) See "Description  of  Ratings" herein.  All  the Bonds  in  the  Insured
        Trusts,  as insured by the  Insurer, are rated AAA  by Standard & Poor's
        Corporation and Aaa by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. (See Section 5.)
 
    (4) As determined by  Kenny S&P  Evaluation Services,  a division  of J.  J.
        Kenny Co., Inc., on behalf of the Trustee as of the close of business on
        the business day preceding the Date of Deposit. The prices as determined
        by  Kenny S&P Evaluation Services, a division  of J. J. Kenny Co., Inc.,
        have been rounded to the nearest dollar.
 
                                       35
<PAGE>
                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
   
     TO THE  BOARD OF  DIRECTORS  OF JOHN  NUVEEN  & CO.  INCORPORATED  AND
     UNITHOLDERS OF NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST, SERIES 805:
    
 
   
       We  have audited  the accompanying  statements of  condition and the
     related schedules of investments at  date of deposit (included in  the
     prospectus  herein)  of  Nuveen  Tax-Exempt  Unit  Trust,  Series  805
     (comprising Maryland Traditional Trust 307, North Carolina Traditional
     Trust 289 and New York Insured Trust  236), as of May 31, 1995.  These
     financial  statements  are  the  responsibility  of  the  Sponsor. Our
     responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial  statements
     based on our audits.
    
 
       We  conducted  our  audits  in  accordance  with  generally accepted
     auditing standards. Those standards require  that we plan and  perform
     the  audit to obtain reasonable  assurance about whether the financial
     statements are  free  of  material  misstatement.  An  audit  includes
     examining,  on  a  test  basis, evidence  supporting  the  amounts and
     disclosures in  the  financial  statements.  Our  procedures  included
     confirmation  of the irrevocable letter  of credit arrangement for the
     purchase of securities,  described in  Note (1) to  the statements  of
     condition,  by correspondence with the Trustee. An audit also includes
     assessing the  accounting principles  used and  significant  estimates
     made  by  the Sponsor,  as well  as  evaluating the  overall financial
     statement  presentation.  We  believe   that  our  audits  provide   a
     reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
   
       In  our  opinion,  the  statements  of  condition  and  the  related
     schedules of investments at date of deposit referred to above  present
     fairly,  in all material  respects, the financial  position of each of
     the trusts constituting the Nuveen  Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series  805
     as  of May 31, 1995, in  conformity with generally accepted accounting
     principles.
    
 
                                                        ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
 
   
     Chicago, Illinois,
     May 31, 1995.
    
 
                                       36
<PAGE>
                            Statements of Condition
 
   
                    NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST, SERIES 805
    
 
   
 (Maryland Traditional Trust 307, North Carolina Traditional Trust 289 and New
                            York Insured Trust 236)
    
   
                               AS OF MAY 31, 1995
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             MARYLAND         NORTH CAROLINA         NEW YORK
                                            TRADITIONAL         TRADITIONAL           INSURED
    TRUST PROPERTY                           TRUST 307           TRUST 289           TRUST 236
<S>                                       <C>                 <C>                 <C>
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
Sponsor's contracts to purchase
 Tax-Exempt Bonds, backed by an
 irrevocable letter of credit(1)(2).....  $     3,331,385     $     3,392,923     $     3,758,213
Accrued interest to May 31, 1995 on
  underlying Bonds(1)...................           64,247              44,565              69,796
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
            Total.......................  $     3,395,632     $     3,437,488     $     3,828,009
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
   LIABILITY AND INTEREST OF UNITHOLDERS
LIABILITY:
    Accrued interest to May 31, 1995 on
      underlying Bonds(3)...............  $        64,247     $        44,565     $        69,796
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
INTEREST OF UNITHOLDERS:
    Units of fractional undivided
      interest outstanding (Maryland
      Traditional Trust 307 --35,000;
      North Carolina Traditional Trust
      289--35,000; New York Insured
      Trust 236-- 40,000)
      Cost to investors(4)..............  $     3,503,018     $     3,567,726     $     3,951,836
        Less: Gross underwriting
          commission(5).................         (171,633)           (174,803)           (193,623)
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
    Net amount applicable to
      investors.........................  $     3,331,385     $     3,392,923     $     3,758,213
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
            Total.......................  $     3,395,632     $     3,437,488     $     3,828,009
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
<FN>
(1) Represented by contracts  to purchase Tax-Exempt  Bonds which include "when  issued" or "regular  way" or "delayed  delivery"
    contracts  for which an irrevocable letter of  credit issued by a major commercial  bank has been deposited with the Trustee.
    The amount of such letter of credit  and any cash deposited exceeds the amount  necessary for the purchase of the Bonds  plus
    accrued  interest to the Date of  Deposit. At the Date of  Deposit, Bonds may have been  delivered to the Sponsor pursuant to
    certain of these contracts; the  Sponsor has assigned to  the Trustee all of  its rights, title and  interest in and to  such
    Bonds.
(2)  Aggregate value (at offering prices) as of the Date of  Deposit of the Bonds listed under "Schedules of Investments" herein,
    and their aggregate cost to the Trusts are the same. Such offering prices were determined by Kenny S&P Evaluation Services as
    of the close of business on the business day prior to the Date of Deposit. (See Section 10.) Insurance coverage providing for
    the timely payment, when due, of all principal  of and interest on the Bonds in  the Insured Trusts has been obtained by  the
    Sponsor  or by the issuers of such Bonds. Such insurance does not guarantee the market value of the Bonds or the value of the
    Units. Both the bid and the offering prices of the underlying  Bonds and of the Units may include value attributable to  such
    policies of insurance.
(3) Representing, as set forth in Section 8, advancement by the Trustee of an amount equal to the accrued Bond interest as of the
    Date of Deposit from the later of the last payment date on the Bonds or the date of issuance thereof.
(4) Aggregate Public Offering Price (exclusive of accrued interest) computed as set forth under Section 6.
(5) The gross underwriting commission has been calculated on the assumption that the Units offered by this prospectus are sold in
    single transactions involving less than $50,000 or 500 Units. At this level, the sales charge is 4.90% of the Public Offering
    Price  in the case of National and State Trusts, 4.25% thereof in  the case of Long Intermediate Trusts, 3.90% in the case of
    Intermediate Trusts, 3.00% in the  case of Short Intermediate Trusts  and 2.50% in the case  of Short Term Trusts. In  single
    transactions involving 500 Units or more, the sales charge is reduced. (See Section 6.)
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       37
<PAGE>
GENERAL TRUST INFORMATION
 
    RISK FACTORS.
 
    An  investment in Units of any Trust should be made with an understanding of
the risks that such an investment may  entail. These include the ability of  the
issuer,  or,  if  applicable,  an  insurer, to  make  payments  of  interest and
principal when due, the  effects of changes in  interest rates generally,  early
call provisions and the potential for changes in the tax status of the Bonds. As
set  forth  in the  portfolio  summaries above,  the  Trusts may  contain  or be
concentrated in one or more of the types of bonds discussed below. The following
paragraphs discuss certain circumstances which may adversely affect the  ability
of  issuers  of Bonds  held  in the  portfolio  of a  Trust  to make  payment of
principal and interest thereon or which may adversely affect the ratings of such
Bonds; with  respect  to  Insured  Trusts, however,  because  of  the  insurance
obtained  by the Sponsor or by the issuers of the Bonds, such changes should not
adversely affect  an Insured  Trust's  receipt of  principal and  interest,  the
Standard  & Poor's AAA or Moody's Aaa ratings  of the Bonds in the Insured Trust
portfolio, or the Standard & Poor's AAA rating of the Units of each such Insured
Trust. For  economic risks  specific  to the  individual Trusts,  see  "Economic
Factors" for each Trust.
 
    HEALTH  FACILITY  OBLIGATIONS.    Some  of  the  Bonds  in  a  Trust  may be
obligations of  issuers whose  revenues are  derived from  services provided  by
hospitals  or other health care facilities,  including nursing homes. Ratings of
bonds issued  for health  care  facilities are  sometimes based  on  feasibility
studies  that contain projections of occupancy  levels, revenues and expenses. A
facility's gross  receipts and  net income  available for  debt service  may  be
affected  by future events and conditions  including, among other things, demand
for services, the ability of the  facility to provide the services required,  an
increasing  shortage of qualified nurses or a dramatic rise in nursing salaries,
physicians'  confidence  in  the  facility,  management  capabilities,  economic
developments  in  the service  area, competition  from other  similar providers,
efforts by  insurers  and  governmental agencies  to  limit  rates,  legislation
establishing  state rate-setting agencies,  expenses, government regulation, the
cost and possible unavailability of  malpractice insurance, and the  termination
or  restriction of governmental financial  assistance, including that associated
with Medicare, Medicaid and other  similar third party payor programs.  Medicare
reimbursements are currently calculated on a prospective basis and are not based
on  a provider's actual costs. Such method of reimbursement may adversely affect
reimbursements to hospitals and other facilities for services provided under the
Medicare program and thereby may have an  adverse effect on the ability of  such
institutions  to satisfy  debt service requirements.  In the event  of a default
upon a bond  secured by hospital  facilities, the limited  alternative uses  for
such  facilities may result  in the recovery upon  such collateral not providing
sufficient funds to fully repay the bonds.
 
    Certain hospital  bonds  provide for  redemption  at par  upon  the  damage,
destruction  or  condemnation of  the hospital  facilities  or in  other special
circumstances.
 
    HOUSING OBLIGATIONS.  Some  of the Bonds  in a Trust  may be obligations  of
issuers  whose revenues  are primarily  derived from  mortgage loans  to housing
projects for  low  to  moderate  income  families.  Such  issues  are  generally
characterized  by mandatory redemption at par or,  in the case of original issue
discount bonds, accreted  value in  the event of  economic defaults  and in  the
event of a failure of the operator of a project to comply with certain covenants
as  to the  operation of  the project.  The failure  of such  operator to comply
 
                                      A-1
<PAGE>
with certain  covenants related  to the  tax-exempt status  of interest  on  the
Bonds,  such as  provisions requiring  that a  specified percentage  of units be
rented or available for rental to  low or moderate income families,  potentially
could cause interest on such Bonds to be subject to Federal income taxation from
the  date of  issuance of the  Bonds. The ability  of such issuers  to make debt
service payments will be  affected by events  and conditions affecting  financed
projects,  including,  among other  things, the  achievement and  maintenance of
sufficient occupancy levels  and adequate rental  income, employment and  income
conditions  prevailing in local labor markets, increases in taxes, utility costs
and other  operating  expenses,  the managerial  ability  of  project  managers,
changes  in laws and  governmental regulations, the  appropriation of subsidies,
and social and economic  trends affecting the localities  in which the  projects
are  located. Occupancy  of such housing  projects may be  adversely affected by
high rent  levels  and  income  limitations  imposed  under  Federal  and  state
programs.
 
    SINGLE  FAMILY MORTGAGE REVENUE BONDS.  Some of  the Bonds in a Trust may be
single family  mortgage revenue  bonds,  which are  issued  for the  purpose  of
acquiring  from originating financial institutions notes secured by mortgages on
residences located within the issuer's boundaries and owned by persons of low or
moderate income. Mortgage  loans are generally  partially or completely  prepaid
prior  to their  final maturities  as a  result of  events such  as sale  of the
mortgaged premises, default, condemnation or casualty loss. Because these  bonds
are  subject to extraordinary mandatory redemption in whole or in part from such
prepayments of mortgage loans, a substantial portion of such bonds will probably
be redeemed prior to their scheduled maturities or even prior to their  ordinary
call dates. Extraordinary mandatory redemption without premium could also result
from  the failure  of the  originating financial  institutions to  make mortgage
loans in sufficient amounts within a specified time period. The redemption price
of such  issues may  be more  or less  than the  offering price  of such  bonds.
Additionally,  unusually high rates of default  on the underlying mortgage loans
may reduce revenues  available for the  payment of principal  of or interest  on
such  mortgage revenue bonds. Single family  mortgage revenue bonds issued after
December 31, 1980 were issued under Section 103A of the Internal Revenue Code of
1954, as amended, or  Section 143 of  the Internal Revenue  Code of 1986,  which
Sections  contain certain  requirements relating to  the use of  the proceeds of
such bonds in  order for the  interest on  such bonds to  retain its  tax-exempt
status.  In each  case, the issuer  of the  bonds has covenanted  to comply with
applicable requirements and bond  counsel to such issuer  has issued an  opinion
that  the interest on the bonds is exempt from Federal income tax under existing
laws  and  regulations.  There  can   be  no  assurance  that  such   continuing
requirements  will be  satisfied; the  failure to  meet such  requirements could
cause interest on the Bonds to  be subject to Federal income taxation,  possibly
from the date of issuance of the Bonds.
 
    FEDERALLY  ENHANCED OBLIGATIONS.   Some  of the  mortgages which  secure the
various health care or housing projects which underlie the previously  discussed
Health  Facility, Housing, and  Single Family Mortgage  Revenue Obligations (the
"Obligations") in a Trust may be  insured by the Federal Housing  Administration
("FHA").  Under FHA  regulations, the  maximum insurable  mortgage amount cannot
exceed 90%  of  the FHA's  estimated  value of  the  project. The  FHA  mortgage
insurance  does not constitute a guarantee of timely payment of the principal of
and interest on the Obligations. Payment  of mortgage insurance benefits may  be
(1)  less than the principal amount of Obligations outstanding or (2) delayed if
disputes arise as to  the amount of  the payment or if  certain notices are  not
given
 
                                      A-2
<PAGE>
to  the  FHA  within the  prescribed  time  periods. In  addition,  some  of the
previously discussed Obligations may be secured by mortgage-backed  certificates
guaranteed  by the Government  National Mortgage Association  ("GNMA"), a wholly
owned corporate  instrumentality  of  the  United  States,  and/or  the  Federal
National   Mortgage  Association  ("Fannie  Mae")   a  federally  chartered  and
stockholder-owed corporation. GNMA  and Fannie Mae  guarantee timely payment  of
principal  and  interest on  the  mortgage-backed certificates,  even  where the
underlying  mortgage  payments   are  not  made.   While  such   mortgage-backed
certificates  are often pledged  to secure payment of  principal and interest on
the Obligations, timely payment of interest and principal on the Obligations  is
not  insured or guaranteed by  the United States, GNMA,  Fannie Mae or any other
governmental agency or  instrumentality. The  GNMA mortgage-backed  certificates
constitute  a general obligation of  the United States backed  by its full faith
and credit. The obligations of Fannie  Mae, including its obligations under  the
Fannie  Mae mortgage-backed securities, are obligations solely of Fannie Mae and
are not backed  by, or  entitled to,  the full faith  and credit  of the  United
States.
 
    INDUSTRIAL  REVENUE OBLIGATIONS.   Certain  of the Bonds  in a  Trust may be
industrial revenue bonds  ("IRBs"), including pollution  control revenue  bonds,
which  are  tax-exempt  securities  issued  by  states,  municipalities,  public
authorities or similar entities to  finance the cost of acquiring,  constructing
or improving various industrial projects. These projects are usually operated by
corporate entities. Issuers are obligated only to pay amounts due on the IRBs to
the  extent that funds are available from the unexpended proceeds of the IRBs or
receipts or revenues of the issuer  under an arrangement between the issuer  and
the  corporate operator of  a project. The arrangement  may be in  the form of a
lease, installment sale agreement, conditional sale agreement or loan agreement,
but in each case  the payments to  the issuer are designed  to be sufficient  to
meet  the payments  of amounts  due on  the IRBs.  Regardless of  the structure,
payment of IRBs is solely dependent  upon the creditworthiness of the  corporate
operator  of  the project  and,  if applicable,  corporate  guarantor. Corporate
operators or  guarantors may  be affected  by  many factors  which may  have  an
adverse  impact on  the credit  quality of  the particular  company or industry.
These include cyclicality of revenues and earnings, regulatory and environmental
restrictions, litigation  resulting  from  accidents  or  environmentally-caused
illnesses,  extensive competition  and financial deterioration  resulting from a
corporate restructuring pursuant to a leveraged buy-out, takeover or  otherwise.
Such  a restructuring may  result in the  operator of a  project becoming highly
leveraged which may have an impact on such operator's creditworthiness which  in
turn  would have  an adverse impact  on the  rating and/or market  value of such
Bonds. Further, the  possibility of  such a  restructuring may  have an  adverse
impact  on the market for and consequently  the value of such Bonds, even though
no actual takeover or other action is ever contemplated or effected. The IRBs in
a Trust may be subject to  special or extraordinary redemption provisions  which
may  provide for redemption  at par or,  in the case  of original issue discount
bonds, accreted value. The  Sponsor cannot predict the  causes or likelihood  of
the redemption of IRBs in a Trust prior to the stated maturity of such Bonds.
 
    ELECTRIC  UTILITY  OBLIGATIONS.    Some  of the  Bonds  in  a  Trust  may be
obligations of issuers  whose revenues are  primarily derived from  the sale  of
electric  energy. The problems  faced by such issuers  include the difficulty in
obtaining approval for timely  and adequate rate  increases from the  applicable
public  utility  commissions,  the difficulty  of  financing  large construction
programs, increased competition, reductions in estimates of
 
                                      A-3
<PAGE>
future demand for electricity in certain  areas of the country, the  limitations
on  operations  and increased  costs  and delays  attributable  to environmental
considerations, the difficulty of the capital market in absorbing utility  debt,
the  difficulty in obtaining fuel at reasonable  prices and the effect of energy
conservation. All  of  such issuers  have  been experiencing  certain  of  these
problems   in  varying  degrees.  In  addition,  Federal,  state  and  municipal
governmental authorities  may from  time  to time  review existing,  and  impose
additional,  regulations governing the licensing,  construction and operation of
nuclear power plants, which may adversely  affect the ability of the issuers  of
certain of the Bonds in a Trust to make payments of principal and/or interest on
such Bonds.
 
    TRANSPORTATION  FACILITY REVENUE BONDS.  Some of the Bonds in a Trust may be
obligations of issuers which  are payable from and  secured by revenues  derived
from  the ownership and operation of airports, public transit systems and ports.
The major portion of  an airport's gross operating  income is generally  derived
from  fees received  from airlines pursuant  to use agreements  which consist of
annual payments for airport  use, occupancy of  certain terminal space,  service
fees  and  leases. Airport  operating income  may therefore  be affected  by the
ability of the airlines to meet their obligations under the use agreements.  The
air  transport industry is  experiencing significant variations  in earnings and
traffic,  due  to  increased  competition,  excess  capacity,  increased  costs,
deregulation,  traffic constraints and  other factors, and  several airlines are
experiencing severe financial difficulties.  In particular, facilities with  use
agreements involving airlines experiencing financial difficulty may experience a
reduction  in revenue due  to the possible  inability of these  airlines to meet
their use  agreement  obligations because  of  such financial  difficulties  and
possible  bankruptcy.  The Sponsor  cannot  predict what  effect  these industry
conditions may have on airport revenues  which are dependent for payment on  the
financial  condition of the  airlines and their usage  of the particular airport
facility. Bonds that are secured primarily by the revenue collected by a  public
transit  system  typically are  additionally secured  by a  pledge of  sales tax
receipts collected  at  the state  or  local  level, or  of  other  governmental
financial assistance. Transit system net revenues will be affected by variations
in  utilization,  which  in  turn  may  be  affected  by  the  degree  of  local
governmental subsidization, demographic and  population shifts, and  competition
from  other forms  of transportation;  and by  increased costs,  including costs
resulting from previous deferrals of maintenance. Port authorities derive  their
revenues  primarily from fees imposed on ships using the facilities. The rate of
utilization of such facilities may fluctuate depending on the local economy  and
on  competition from  competing forms  of transportation  such as  air, rail and
trucks.
 
    WATER AND/OR SEWERAGE  OBLIGATIONS.  Some  of the  Bonds in a  Trust may  be
obligations  of issuers whose revenues are derived from the sale of water and/or
sewerage services. Such Bonds are generally payable from user fees. The problems
of such  issuers  include  the  ability  to  obtain  timely  and  adequate  rate
increases,  population decline resulting in  decreased user fees, the difficulty
of financing  large construction  programs, the  limitations on  operations  and
increased  costs and  delays attributable  to environmental  considerations, the
increasing difficulty of obtaining or  discovering new supplies of fresh  water,
the  effect  of  conservation  programs and  the  impact  of  "no-growth" zoning
ordinances. All of such issuers have been experiencing certain of these problems
in varying degrees.
 
    UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE REVENUE  OBLIGATIONS.  Some of  the Bonds in a  Trust
may  be obligations  of issuers  which are,  or which  govern the  operation of,
colleges and universities and  whose revenues are  derived mainly from  tuition,
dormitory revenues, grants and
 
                                      A-4
<PAGE>
endowments. General problems of such issuers include the prospect of a declining
percentage  of the population consisting  of "college" age individuals, possible
inability to raise tuitions and  fees sufficiently to cover increased  operating
costs, the uncertainty of continued receipt of Federal grants and state funding,
and  government  legislation  or  regulations  which  may  adversely  affect the
revenues or costs of  such issuers. All of  such issuers have been  experiencing
certain of these problems in varying degrees.
 
    BRIDGE AUTHORITY AND TOLLROAD OBLIGATIONS.  Some of the Bonds in a Trust may
be  obligations  of issuers  which derive  their payments  from bridge,  road or
tunnel toll revenues. The revenues of such an issuer could be adversely affected
by competition from toll-free vehicular bridges and roads and alternative  modes
of transportation. Such revenues could also be adversely affected by a reduction
in  the availability of fuel to motorists  or significant increases in the costs
thereof. Specifically, governmental regulations restricting the use of  vehicles
in  the New  York City  metropolitan area may  adversely affect  revenues of the
Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority.
 
    DEDICATED-TAX SUPPORTED  BONDS.    Some of  the  Bonds  in a  Trust  may  be
obligations of issuers which are payable from and secured by tax revenues from a
designated  source, which revenues are pledged  to secure the bonds. The various
types of  Bonds described  below differ  in structure  and with  respect to  the
rights of the bondholders to the underlying property. Each type of dedicated-tax
supported  Bond has distinct risks, only some  of which are set forth below. One
type of dedicated-tax supported Bond is secured by the incremental tax  received
on  either real property or on  sales within a specifically defined geographical
area; such  tax  generally will  not  provide bondholders  with  a lien  on  the
underlying property or revenues. Another type of dedicated-tax supported Bond is
secured  by a special tax levied on  real property within a defined geographical
area in such  a manner  that the tax  is levied  on those who  benefit from  the
project;  such bonds  typically provide for  a statutory lien  on the underlying
property for unpaid taxes. A third  type of dedicated-tax supported Bond may  be
secured by a tax levied upon the manufacture, sale or consumption of commodities
or  upon the license to pursue  certain occupations or upon corporate privileges
within a taxing jurisdiction. As to any of these types of Bonds, the ability  of
the  designated revenues to satisfy the  interest and principal payments on such
bonds may be affected by changes in the local economy, the financial success  of
the  enterprise  responsible for  the payment  of  the taxes,  the value  of any
property on which taxes may be assessed and the ability to collect such taxes in
a timely fashion. Each  of these factors  will have a  different affect on  each
distinct type of dedicated-tax supported bonds.
 
    MUNICIPAL LEASE BONDS.  Some of the Bonds in a Trust may be obligations that
are  secured  by lease  payments  of a  governmental  entity. Such  payments are
normally subject to  annual budget  appropriations of  the leasing  governmental
entity.  A governmental  entity that enters  into such a  lease agreement cannot
obligate future  governments to  appropriate  for and  make lease  payments  but
covenants  to take such action as is necessary to include any lease payments due
in its budgets and to make the appropriations therefor. A governmental  entity's
failure to appropriate for and to make payments under its lease obligation could
result  in insufficient funds  available for payment  of the obligations secured
thereby.
 
    ORIGINAL ISSUE  DISCOUNT BONDS  AND STRIPPED  OBLIGATIONS.   Certain of  the
Bonds  in a Trust may be original  issue discount bonds. These Bonds were issued
with nominal  interest rates  less than  the rates  then offered  by  comparable
securities and as a consequence were
 
                                      A-5
<PAGE>
originally  sold at a  discount from their  face, or par,  values. This original
issue discount,  the difference  between  the initial  purchase price  and  face
value,  is deemed under current  law to accrue on a  daily basis and the accrued
portion is  treated  as  tax-exempt  interest  income  for  federal  income  tax
purposes.  On sale or redemption, gain, if any, realized in excess of the earned
portion of original issue discount will be taxable as capital gain. See "What is
the Tax Status of Unitholders". The current value of an original issue  discount
bond  reflects the  present value of  its face  amount at maturity.  In a stable
interest rate environment, the market value  of an original issue discount  bond
would  tend to increase more slowly in  early years and in greater increments as
the bond approached maturity.
 
    Certain of the original issue discount bonds  in a Trust may be zero  coupon
bonds. Zero coupon bonds do not provide for the payment of any current interest;
the  buyer receives only the right to receive a final payment of the face amount
of the bond at its maturity. The effect  of owning a zero coupon bond is that  a
fixed  yield is earned not only on  the original investment but also, in effect,
on all  discount  earned  during  the life  of  the  obligation.  This  implicit
reinvestment of earnings at the same rate eliminates the risk of being unable to
reinvest  the income on such obligation at a rate as high as the implicit yield,
but at the same time also eliminates the holder's ability to reinvest at  higher
rates  in  the  future.  For  this reason,  zero  coupon  bonds  are  subject to
substantially greater  price  fluctuations  during periods  of  changing  market
interest  rates  than are  securities of  comparable  quality that  pay interest
currently.
 
    Original issue discount bonds, including  zero coupon bonds, may be  subject
to  redemption at prices  based on the  issue price plus  the amount of original
issue  discount  accreted  to  redemption   (the  "accreted  value")  plus,   if
applicable,  some premium.  Pursuant to such  call provisions  an original issue
discount bond may be called prior to its maturity date at a price less than  its
face  value. See the  "Schedules of Investments" for  more information about the
call provisions of portfolio Bonds.
 
    Certain of the Bonds in a Trust may be Stripped Obligations, which represent
evidences of  ownership with  respect to  either the  principal amount  of or  a
payment  of interest on a tax-exempt  obligation. An obligation is "stripped" by
depositing it with  a custodian, which  then effects a  separation in  ownership
between  the bond and any interest payment which has not yet become payable, and
issues evidences of ownership with respect to such constituent parts. A Stripped
Obligation therefore has economic characteristics similar to zero coupon  bonds,
as described above.
 
    Each  Stripped Obligation has  been purchased at a  discount from the amount
payable at maturity. With respect to each Unitholder, the Internal Revenue  Code
treats  as "original issue discount" that portion of the discount which produces
a yield to maturity (as of the date of purchase of the Unitholder's Units) equal
to the lower of the coupon rate of interest on the underlying obligation or  the
yield  to maturity on the basis of  the purchase price of the Unitholder's Units
which is allocable to  each Stripped Obligation.  Original issue discount  which
accrues with respect to a Stripped Obligation will be exempt from Federal income
taxation  to the  same extent  as interest  on the  underlying obligations. (See
Section 11, " What Is The Tax Status of Unitholders".)
 
    Unitholders should consult their own tax advisers with respect to the  state
and  local tax consequences of owning  original issue discount bonds or Stripped
Obligations. Under applicable  provisions governing determination  of state  and
local taxes, interest on original
 
                                      A-6
<PAGE>
issue discount bonds or Stripped Obligations may be deemed to be received in the
year of accrual even though there is no corresponding cash payment.
 
4.  COMPOSITION OF TRUSTS
 
Each  Trust initially consists  of delivery statements  relating to contracts to
purchase Bonds (or of such Bonds) as are listed under "Schedules of Investments"
and, thereafter, of  such Bonds as  may continue to  be held from  time to  time
(including  certain securities deposited in the  Trust in substitution for Bonds
not delivered to the Trust or in exchange or substitution for Bonds upon certain
refundings), together  with  accrued  and  undistributed  interest  thereon  and
undistributed cash realized from the disposition of Bonds.
 
    "WHEN-ISSUED"  AND  "DELAYED  DELIVERY"  TRANSACTIONS.    The  contracts  to
purchase Bonds delivered to  the Trustee represent an  obligation by issuers  or
dealers  to deliver Bonds  to the Sponsor  for deposit in  the Trusts. Normally,
"regular way"  contracts are  settled and  the Bonds  delivered to  the  Trustee
within  a relatively  short period  of time.  However, certain  of the contracts
relate to Bonds which have not been issued  as of the Date of Deposit and  which
are  commonly referred to  as "when issued"  or "when, as  and if issued" Bonds.
Although the Sponsor does not believe it  is likely, one or more of the  issuers
of such Bonds might decide not to proceed with such offerings. If such Bonds, or
replacement  bonds described  below, are  not acquired  by a  Trust or  if their
delivery is  delayed, the  Estimated  Current Returns  and Estimated  Long  Term
Returns  shown herein may be reduced. Certain  of the contracts for the purchase
of Bonds provide for delivery dates  after the date of settlement for  purchases
made  on  the Date  of  Deposit. Interest  on  such "when  issued"  and "delayed
delivery" Bonds accrues to the benefit of Unitholders commencing with the  first
settlement  date for the Units. However,  in the opinion of counsel, Unitholders
who purchase their Units prior to the date such Bonds are actually delivered  to
the  Trustee must reduce the  tax basis of their  Units for interest accruing on
such Bonds during the interval between their purchase of Units and the  delivery
of  the Bonds because such amounts constitute a return of principal. As a result
of such adjustment, the  Estimated Current Returns set  forth herein (which  are
based  on the Public Offering Price as of  the business day prior to the Date of
Deposit) may be  slightly lower than  Unitholders will receive  after the  first
year,  assuming the Portfolio does not  change and estimated annual expense does
not vary from that set forth under "Essential Information Regarding the Trusts."
Those Bonds  in each  Trust purchased  with  delivery dates  after the  date  of
settlement  for  purchases made  on  the Date  of Deposit  are  so noted  in the
Schedules of Investments.
 
    LIMITED REPLACEMENT OF CERTAIN BONDS.   Neither the Sponsor nor the  Trustee
shall  be liable in any way  for any default, failure or  defect in any Bond. In
the event of a failure to deliver any  Bond that has been purchased for a  Trust
under  a contract, including those  Bonds purchased on a  when, as and if issued
basis ("Failed Bonds"), the Sponsor is authorized under the Indenture to  direct
the  Trustee to acquire  other specified Bonds ("Replacement  Bonds") to make up
the original corpus of the Trust. The Replacement Bonds must be purchased within
20 days after  delivery of notice  of the failed  contract and the  cost to  the
Trust  (exclusive  of  accrued interest)  may  not  exceed the  amount  of funds
reserved for the purchase  of the Failed Bonds.  The Replacement Bonds (i)  must
satisfy  the criteria previously described for  Bonds originally included in the
Trust and, with respect  to Bonds purchased  for a State  Trust, shall have  the
benefit of an exemption from state taxation of interest to an extent equal to or
greater  than that of  the Bonds they  replace, (ii) must  have a fixed maturity
date after the date of purchase of  not less than approximately 15 years in  the
case  of National or State Trusts, approximately 11  years in the case of a Long
Intermediate Trust, approximately 5 years in  the case of Intermediate or  State
Intermediate  Trusts, approximately 3 years in  the case of a Short Intermediate
Trust and
 
                                      A-7
<PAGE>
approximately 1 year in the case of a  Short Term Trust, but not later than  the
maturity date of the Failed Bonds, (iii) must be acquired at a cost to the Trust
equal  to the cost of the same principal  amount of Bonds provided in the failed
contract and have  a current  return and  yield to  maturity not  less than  the
current  return and yield to maturity of the  Failed Bonds and (iv) shall not be
"when, as and if  issued" Bonds. Whenever a  Replacement Bond has been  acquired
for  a Trust, the  Trustee shall, within  five days after  the delivery thereof,
mail or deliver a  notice of such  acquisition to all  Unitholders of the  Trust
involved.  Once the original corpus  of the Trust is  acquired, the Trustee will
have no power to vary the investment of the Trust; i.e., the Trust will have  no
managerial power to take advantage of market variation to improve a Unitholder's
investment.
 
    To  the extent the right of  limited substitution described in the preceding
paragraph shall not  be utilized  to acquire  Replacement Bonds  for the  entire
principal amount of Failed Bonds, the Sponsor shall refund to all Unitholders of
the  Trust  involved the  sales  charge attributable  to  such Failed  Bonds not
replaced, and  the principal  and accrued  interest attributable  to such  Bonds
shall  be distributed  not more  than 30  days after  the determination  of such
failure or at such earlier time as  the Trustee in its sole discretion deems  to
be  in  the interest  of  the Unitholders.  Any  such accrued  interest  paid to
Unitholders will be paid by the Sponsor and, accordingly, will not be treated as
tax-exempt income. In the event Failed Bonds  in a Trust could not be  replaced,
the  Net Annual Interest Income per Unit for such Trust would be reduced and the
Estimated Current Return thereon might be lowered.
 
    SALE, MATURITY AND REDEMPTION OF BONDS.  Certain of the Bonds may from  time
to  time  under certain  circumstances be  sold  or redeemed  or will  mature in
accordance with their terms. The proceeds from  such events will be used to  pay
for   Units  redeemed  or   distributed  to  Unitholders   and  not  reinvested;
accordingly, no assurance can be given that  a Trust will retain for any  length
of time its present size and composition.
 
    All  of the Bonds in  each Trust are subject to  being called or redeemed in
whole or  in part  prior to  their stated  maturities pursuant  to the  optional
redemption  provisions described in  the "Schedules of  Investments" and in most
cases pursuant to sinking fund, special or extraordinary redemption  provisions.
A  bond  subject to  optional  call is  one which  is  subject to  redemption or
refunding prior to maturity at the option of the issuer. A refunding is a method
by which a bond issue is redeemed, at  or before maturity, by the proceeds of  a
new  bond  issue. A  bond subject  to sinking  fund redemption  is one  which is
subject to  partial call  from time  to time  from a  fund accumulated  for  the
scheduled  retirement of  a portion  of an issue  prior to  maturity. Special or
extraordinary redemption  provisions may  provide  for redemption  of all  or  a
portion  of an  issue upon  the occurrence  of certain  circumstances related to
defaults or unanticipated changes  in circumstances. Events  that may permit  or
require  the special or extraordinary redemption of bonds include, among others:
substantial damage to or  destruction of the project  for which the proceeds  of
the  bonds were used; exercise by a local, state or federal governmental unit of
its power of eminent domain to take all or substantially all of the project  for
which  the  proceeds of  the bonds  were  used; a  final determination  that the
interest on the bonds  is taxable; changes in  the economic availability of  raw
materials,  operating supplies or  facilities or technological  or other changes
which render the operation of  the project for which  the proceeds of the  bonds
were  used uneconomical; changes in law  or an administrative or judicial decree
which render the performance  of the agreement under  which the proceeds of  the
bonds  were made  available to  finance the  project impossible  or which create
unreasonable burdens or which impose  excessive liabilities, such as taxes,  not
imposed  on the date the bonds are issued on the issuer of the bonds or the user
of the  proceeds  of the  bonds;  an  administrative or  judicial  decree  which
requires  the cessation of a  substantial part of the  operations of the project
financed with the proceeds of the bonds;
 
                                      A-8
<PAGE>
an overestimate of the costs of the project to be financed with the proceeds  of
the  bonds resulting in excess proceeds which may be applied to redeem bonds; or
an underestimate of  a source of  funds securing the  bonds resulting in  excess
funds which may be applied to redeem bonds. The Sponsor is unable to predict all
of  the circumstances which may result in  such redemption of an issue of Bonds.
See the discussion of the various  types of bond issues, above, for  information
on  the  call  provisions of  such  bonds, particularly  single  family mortgage
revenue bonds.
 
    The exercise of redemption or call provisions will (except to the extent the
proceeds of the called Bonds are used to pay for Unit redemptions) result in the
distribution of  principal  and may  result  in a  reduction  in the  amount  of
subsequent  interest distributions;  it may  also affect  the current  return on
Units of the Trust involved. Redemption pursuant to optional call provisions  is
more  likely to  occur, and  redemption pursuant to  sinking fund  or special or
extraordinary redemption provisions may occur,  when the Bonds have an  offering
side  evaluation which  represents a  premium over  par. Redemption  pursuant to
optional call provisions  may be,  and redemption  pursuant to  sinking fund  or
special or extraordinary redemption provisions is likely to be, at a price equal
to the par value of the bonds without any premium (in the case of original issue
discount  bonds, such redemption is generally to be made at the issue price plus
the amount of original issue discount  accreted to the date of redemption;  such
price  is referred to herein  as "accreted value"). Because  Bonds may have been
valued at prices above or below par value or the then current accreted value  at
the  time Units were  purchased, Unitholders may  realize gain or  loss upon the
redemption of portfolio  Bonds. (See Sections  11 and 13  and the "Schedules  of
Investments.")
 
    CERTAIN  TAX  MATTERS;  LITIGATION.   Certain  of  the Bonds  in  each Trust
portfolio may be subject  to continuing requirements such  as the actual use  of
bond proceeds, manner of operation of the project financed from bond proceeds or
rebate  of excess  earnings on  bond proceeds that  may affect  the exemption of
interest on such  Bonds from Federal  income taxation. Although  at the time  of
issuance  of each  of the  Bonds in each  Trust an  opinion of  bond counsel was
rendered as to the exemption of interest on such obligations from Federal income
taxation, and the issuers covenanted  to comply with all requirements  necessary
to retain the tax-exempt status of the Bonds, there can be no assurance that the
respective  issuers  or  other obligors  on  such obligations  will  fulfill the
various continuing  requirements  established  upon issuance  of  the  Bonds.  A
failure to comply with such requirements may cause a determination that interest
on  such  obligations  is  subject  to  Federal  income  taxation,  perhaps even
retroactively from the  date of  issuance of  such Bonds,  thereby reducing  the
value of the Bonds and subjecting Unitholders to unanticipated tax liabilities.
 
    To  the best knowledge of the Sponsor,  there is no litigation pending as of
the Date of Deposit in respect of  any Bonds which might reasonably be  expected
to  have a  material adverse effect  on any of  the Trusts. It  is possible that
after the Date of Deposit, litigation may be initiated with respect to Bonds  in
any  Trust. Any  such litigation may  affect the  validity of such  Bonds or the
tax-exempt nature of the interest thereon,  but while the outcome of  litigation
of  such nature can never be entirely predicted, the opinions of bond counsel to
the issuer of  each Bond  on the  date of issuance  state that  such Bonds  were
validly issued and that the interest thereon is, to the extent indicated, exempt
from Federal income tax.
 
                                      A-9
<PAGE>
5.  WHY AND HOW ARE THE BONDS INSURED?
 
INSURANCE ON BONDS IN INSURED TRUSTS
 
Insurance  guaranteeing  the  timely payment,  when  due, of  all  principal and
interest on the Bonds in each Insured Trust has been obtained by the Sponsor  or
by the issuers or underwriters of Bonds from the MBIA Insurance Corporation (the
"Insurer").  Some of the Bonds in each Insured  Trust may be covered by a policy
or policies of insurance  obtained by the issuers  or underwriters of the  Bonds
from  Municipal Bond Insurance Association (the "Association") or Bond Investors
Guaranty Insurance Company ("BIG"). The Insurer has issued a policy or  policies
of  insurance covering each of  the Bonds in the  Insured Trusts, each policy to
remain in force until the payment in full  of such Bonds and whether or not  the
Bonds  continue to be held by an Insured  Trust. By the terms of each policy the
Insurer will unconditionally guarantee to the holders or owners of the Bonds the
payment, when due, required of the issuer of the Bonds of an amount equal to the
principal of and interest on the Bonds as such payments shall become due but not
be paid  (except that  in the  event  of any  acceleration of  the due  date  of
principal  by reason of mandatory or  optional redemption, default or otherwise,
the payments guaranteed will be made in such amounts and at such times as  would
have  been  due  had  there  not been  an  acceleration).  The  Insurer  will be
responsible for  such payments,  less any  amounts received  by the  holders  or
owners  of the  Bonds from any  trustee for the  bond issuers or  from any other
sources other  than  the  Insurer.  The Insurer's  policies  relating  to  small
industrial  development bonds and pollution control revenue bonds also guarantee
the full and complete payments required to be made by or on behalf of an  issuer
of  Bonds pursuant  to the  terms of the  Bonds if  there occurs  an event which
results in the  loss of the  tax-exempt status  of the interest  on such  Bonds,
including  principal, interest or premium payments,  if any, as and when thereby
required. The Insurer has  indicated that its insurance  policies do not  insure
the  payment of principal or interest on bonds which are not required to be paid
by the issuer thereof  because the bonds were  not validly issued; as  indicated
under   "What  is  the  Tax  Status  of  Unitholders?"  the  respective  issuing
authorities have  received  opinions  of  bond counsel  relating  to  the  valid
issuance  of each of the Bonds in  the Insured Trusts. The Insurer's policy also
does not insure  against non-payment of  principal of or  interest on the  Bonds
resulting  from the insolvency, negligence  or any other act  or omission of the
trustee or other paying agent  for the Bonds. The policy  is not covered by  the
Property/Casualty  Insurance Security  Fund specified in  Article 76  of the New
York Insurance Law. The policies are non-cancellable and the insurance  premiums
have  been fully paid on or prior to  the Date of Deposit, either by the Sponsor
or, if a policy has been obtained by a Bond issuer, by such issuer.
 
    Upon notification from  the trustee  for any bond  issuer or  any holder  or
owner of the Bonds or coupons that such trustee or paying agent has insufficient
funds  to pay any  principal or interest in  full when due,  the Insurer will be
obligated to deposit funds  promptly with State Street  Bank and Trust  Company,
N.A.,  New York, New York, as fiscal  agent for the Insurer, sufficient to fully
cover the deficit. If notice of nonpayment is received on or after the due date,
the Insurer will provide for payment  within one business day following  receipt
of  the notice. Upon payment  by the Insurer of  any Bonds, coupons, or interest
payments, the Insurer shall succeed  to the rights of  the owner of such  Bonds,
coupons or interest payments with respect thereto.
 
    The  Insurer is the principal operating subsidiary of MBIA, Inc., a New York
Stock Exchange listed company. MBIA, Inc. is  not obligated to pay the debts  of
or  claims against the  Insurer. The Insurer is  a limited liability corporation
rather than a  several liability association.  The Insurer is  domiciled in  the
State of New York and licensed to do business
 
                                      A-10
<PAGE>
in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the
Commonwealth  of the Northern Mariana Islands,  the Virgin Islands of the United
States and the Territory  of Guam. The  Insurer has one  European branch in  the
Republic of France.
 
    As  of  March 31,  1995  the Insurer  had  admitted assets  of  $3.5 billion
(unaudited), total liabilities  of $2.4 billion  (unaudited), and total  capital
and  surplus of $1.1 billion (unaudited) determined in accordance with statutory
accounting  practices   prescribed   or  permitted   by   insurance   regulatory
authorities.  As of December 31,  1994, the Insurer had  admitted assets of $3.4
billion (audited),  total  liabilities  of $2.3  billion  (audited),  and  total
capital  and surplus  of $1.1  billion (audited)  determined in  accordance with
statutory accounting practices prescribed  or permitted by insurance  regulatory
authorities.  Copies of the Insurer's year  end financial statements prepared in
accordance with statutory accounting practices  are available from the  Insurer.
The address of the Insurer is 113 King Street, Armonk, New York 10504.
 
    Each  insurance company comprising the Association will be severally and not
jointly obligated  under  the Association  policy  in the  following  respective
percentages:  The  AEtna  Casualty  and  Surety  Company,  33%;  Fireman's  Fund
Insurance Company, 30%;  The Travelers Indemnity  Company, 15%; AEtna  Insurance
Company  (now  known  as CIGNA  Property  and  Casualty Company),  12%;  and The
Continental Insurance Company, 10%.  As a several  obligor, each such  insurance
company  will be  obligated only to  the extent  of its percentage  of any claim
under the  Association  policy and  will  not be  obligated  to pay  any  unpaid
obligation  of any  other member  of the  Association. Each  insurance company's
participation is backed by all of its assets. However, each insurance company is
a multiline insurer involved in several lines of insurance other than  municipal
bond  insurance, and the assets of each insurance company also secure all of its
other insurance policy and surety bond obligations.
 
    The following table sets forth certain unaudited financial information  with
respect  to  the  five  insurance  companies  comprising  the  Association.  The
statistics, which have been furnished by the Association, are as reported by the
insurance  companies  to  the  New  York  State  Insurance  Department  and  are
determined in accordance with statutory accounting principles. No representation
is  made herein as to the accuracy or  adequacy of such information or as to the
absence of material adverse changes in  such information subsequent to the  date
thereof.  In addition,  these numbers  are subject to  revision by  the New York
State Insurance Department which, if revised, could either increase or  decrease
the amounts.
 
                      MUNICIPAL BOND INSURANCE ASSOCIATION
      FIVE MEMBER COMPANIES ASSETS AND POLICYHOLDERS' SURPLUS (UNAUDITED)
                           AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1994.
                                (000'S OMITTED)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              NEW YORK         NEW YORK         NEW YORK
                                                              STATUTORY        STATUTORY     POLICYHOLDERS
                                                               ASSETS         LIABILITIES       SURPLUS
                                                           ---------------  ---------------  --------------
<S>                                                        <C>              <C>              <C>
The AEtna Casualty & Surety Company......................  $    10,030,200  $     8,275,300   $  1,754,900
Fireman's Fund Insurance Company.........................        6,815,775        4,904,534      1,911,241
The Travelers Indemnity Company..........................       10,295,359        8,515,392      1,779,967
CIGNA Property and Casualty Company (formerly AEtna
  Insurance Company).....................................        5,112,251        4,842,235        270,016
The Continental Insurance Company........................        2,794,536        2,449,805        344,731
                                                           ---------------  ---------------  --------------
        Total............................................  $    35,048,121  $    28,987,266   $  6,060,855
                                                           ---------------  ---------------  --------------
                                                           ---------------  ---------------  --------------
</TABLE>
 
                                      A-11
<PAGE>
    Standard   &  Poor's  Corporation  rates  all  new  issues  insured  by  the
Association "AAA" Prime Grade.
 
    Moody's Investors Service rates all  bond issues insured by the  Association
"Aaa"  and  short term  loans  "MIG 1",  both designated  to  be of  the highest
quality.
 
    Each such rating should be evaluated  independently of any other rating.  No
application  has  been  made to  any  other  rating agency  in  order  to obtain
additional ratings  on the  Bonds.  The ratings  reflect the  respective  rating
agency's  current assessment of the creditworthiness  of the Association and its
ability to pay claims on its  policies of insurance. Any further explanation  as
to  the  significance  of  the  above ratings  may  be  obtained  only  from the
applicable rating agency.
 
    Moody's Investors Service rates all bond issues insured by the Insurer "Aaa"
and short-term loans "MIG 1," both designated to be of the highest quality.
 
    Standard & Poor's  Ratings Group,  a division  of McGraw  Hill ("Standard  &
Poor's") rates all new issues insured by the Insurer "AAA" Prime Grade."
 
    The  Moody's Investors  Service rating  of the  Insurer should  be evaluated
independently of the  Standard & Poor's  Corporation rating of  the Insurer.  No
application  has  been  made to  any  other  rating agency  in  order  to obtain
additional ratings  on the  Bonds.  The ratings  reflect the  respective  rating
agency's  current  assessment of  the creditworthiness  of  the Insurer  and its
ability to  pay  claims  on  its policies  of  insurance  (See  "Description  of
Ratings.")  Any further explanation as to  the significance of the above ratings
may be obtained only from the applicable rating agency.
 
    The above ratings are  not recommendations to buy,  sell or hold the  Bonds,
and  such ratings may  be subject to revision  or withdrawal at  any time by the
rating agencies. Any downward revision or  withdrawal of either or both  ratings
may have an adverse effect on the market price of the Bonds.
 
    Because  the insurance on the  Bonds will be effective  so long as the Bonds
are outstanding, such insurance  will be taken into  account in determining  the
market  value  of  the  Bonds  and therefore  some  value  attributable  to such
insurance will be included in the value of the Units of the Insured Trusts.  The
insurance  does not, however, guarantee the market  value of the Bonds or of the
Units.
 
INSURANCE ON CERTAIN BONDS IN TRADITIONAL TRUSTS
 
    Insurance guaranteeing the timely  payment, when due,  of all principal  and
interest  on certain Bonds in a Traditional  Trust may have been obtained by the
Sponsor, issuer or underwriter  of the particular Bonds  involved or by  another
party.  Such insurance, which  provides coverage substantially  the same as that
obtained with  respect  to  Bonds  in Insured  Trusts  as  described  above,  is
effective  so long as the insured Bond is outstanding and the insurer remains in
business. Insurance relates  only to the  particular Bond and  not to the  Units
offered hereby or to their market value. Insured Bonds have received a rating of
"Aaa"  by  Moody's Investors  Service, Inc.  and/or "AAA"  by Standard  & Poor's
Corporation in recognition of such insurance.
 
    If a Bond  in a Traditional  Trust is insured,  the Schedule of  Investments
will identify the insurer. Such insurance will be provided by Financial Guaranty
Insurance   Company  ("FGIC"),  AMBAC   Indemnity  Corporation  ("AMBAC"),  Bond
Investors Guaranty  Insurance  Company, now  known  as MBIA  Corp.  of  Illinois
("BIG"), Capital Guaranty Insurance
 
                                      A-12
<PAGE>
Company  ("CGIC"), Financial  Security Assurance,  Inc. ("FSA"),  Municipal Bond
Insurance Association (the "Association"),  MBIA Insurance Corporation  ("MBIA")
or Connie Lee Insurance Company ("ConnieLee"). The Sponsor to date has purchased
and  presently intends  to purchase  insurance for  Bonds in  Traditional Trusts
exclusively from MBIA (see the  preceding disclosure regarding MBIA). There  can
be  no assurance  that any insurer  listed therein  will be able  to satisfy its
commitments in the  event claims  are made in  the future.  However, Standard  &
Poor's  Corporation has rated  the claims-paying ability  of each insurer "AAA,"
and Moody's Investors Service has rated all bonds insured by each such  insurer,
except  ConnieLee, "Aaa." Moody's Investor's Service  gives no ratings for bonds
insured by ConnieLee.
 
    Because any such insurance  will be effective so  long as the insured  Bonds
are  outstanding, such insurance  will be taken into  account in determining the
market value  of  such Bonds  and  therefore  some value  attributable  to  such
insurance  will be included in the value of the Units of the Trust that includes
such Bonds. The insurance does not,  however, guarantee the market value of  the
Bonds or of the Units.
 
6.  HOW IS THE PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?
 
The  Public Offering Price of the Units of  each Trust is equal to the Trustee's
determination of the aggregate  OFFERING prices of  the Bonds deposited  therein
(minus  any  advancement to  the  principal account  of  the Trust  made  by the
Trustee) plus a sales charge of 5.152%  of the aggregate offering prices in  the
case  of National and State  Trusts, 4.439% of the  aggregate offering prices in
the case of Long Intermediate Trusts, 4.058% of the aggregate offering prices in
the case of Intermediate Trusts, 3.093% of the aggregate offering prices in  the
case of Short Intermediate Trusts and 2.564% of the aggregate offering prices in
the  case of Short  Term Trusts, in each  case adding to  the total thereof cash
held by the Trust,  if any, and dividing  the sum so obtained  by the number  of
Units  outstanding in the Trust. This  computation produces a gross underwriting
profit equal to 4.90% of the Public  Offering Price in the case of National  and
State  Trusts,  4.25%  of  the  Public  Offering  Price  in  the  case  of  Long
Intermediate Trusts,  3.90%  of  the  Public  Offering  Price  in  the  case  of
Intermediate  Trusts, 3.00% of  the Public Offering  Price in the  case of Short
Intermediate Trusts and 2.50% of the Public Offering Price in the case of  Short
Term Trusts.
 
    The  sales charge applicable to quantity purchases is reduced on a graduated
scale for sales to any  purchaser of at least $50,000  or 500 Units and will  be
applied  on whichever basis is more favorable  to the purchaser. For purposes of
calculating the applicable  sales charge,  purchasers who  have indicated  their
intent  to purchase a specified amount of Units of any Trust described herein in
the primary or secondary offering period or units of any other series of  Nuveen
Tax-Exempt  Unit Trusts in the primary or secondary offering period by executing
and delivering a letter of intent to the Sponsor, which letter of intent must be
in a  form acceptable  to  the Sponsor  and shall  have  a maximum  duration  of
thirteen months, will be eligible to receive a reduced sales charge according to
the  following tables  based on  the amount  of intended  aggregate purchases as
expressed in the  letter of  intent. Due  to administrative  limitations and  in
order to permit adequate tracking, the only secondary market purchases that will
be  permitted to be applied  toward the intended specified  amount and that will
receive the corresponding reduced sales charge are those Units that are acquired
through or from the  Sponsor. By establishing a  letter of intent, a  Unitholder
agrees  that the first purchase of Units  following the execution of such letter
of intent will  be at least  5% of the  total amount of  the intended  aggregate
purchases  expressed in such Unitholder's letter of intent. Further, through the
establishment of  the  letter  of  intent, such  Unitholder  agrees  that  units
representing  5% of the total  amount of the intended  purchases will be held in
escrow by United States  Trust Company of New  York pending completion of  these
purchases.    All   distributions   on   units    held   in   escrow   will   be
 
                                      A-13
<PAGE>
credited  to  such  Unitholder's  account.  If  total  purchases  prior  to  the
expiration  of the letter of intent period  equal or exceed the amount specified
in a Unitholder's letter of intent, the units held in escrow will be transferred
to such Unitholder's account.  If the total purchases  are less than the  amount
specified,  the Unitholder involved must pay the  Sponsor an amount equal to the
difference between the amounts  paid for these purchases  and the amounts  which
would  have  been paid  if the  higher sales  charge had  been applied.  If such
Unitholder does  not pay  the additional  amount within  20 days  after  written
request  by  the  Sponsor  or the  Unitholder's  securities  representative, the
Sponsor will  instruct  the Trustee  to  redeem  an appropriate  number  of  the
escrowed units to meet the required payment. By establishing a letter of intent,
a  Unitholder irrevocably appoints the Sponsor  as attorney to give instructions
to redeem any or  all of such  Unitholder's escrowed units,  with full power  of
substitution in the premises. A Unitholder or his securities representative must
notify  the Sponsor whenever such  Unitholder makes a purchase  of Units that he
wishes to  be counted  towards the  intended amount.  Sales charges  during  the
primary offering period are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         NATIONAL AND STATE      LONG INTERMEDIATE
                                                               TRUSTS                  TRUSTS           INTERMEDIATE TRUSTS
                                                       ----------------------  ----------------------  ----------------------
<S>                                                    <C>          <C>        <C>          <C>        <C>          <C>
                                                         PERCENT     PERCENT     PERCENT     PERCENT     PERCENT     PERCENT
                                                           OF        OF NET        OF        OF NET        OF        OF NET
                                                        OFFERING     AMOUNT     OFFERING     AMOUNT     OFFERING     AMOUNT
                  NUMBER OF UNITS*                        PRICE     INVESTED      PRICE     INVESTED      PRICE     INVESTED
- -----------------------------------------------------  -----------  ---------  -----------  ---------  -----------  ---------
Less than 500........................................        4.90%      5.152%       4.25%      4.439%       3.90%      4.058%
500 but less than 1,000..............................        4.75       4.987        4.15       4.330        3.70       3.842
1,000 but less than 2,500............................        4.50       4.712        3.85       4.004        3.50       3.627
2,500 but less than 5,000............................        4.25       4.439        3.60       3.734        3.25       3.359
5,000 but less than 10,000...........................        3.50       3.627        3.35       3.466        3.00       3.093
10,000 but less than 25,000..........................        3.00       3.093        3.00       3.093        2.75       2.828
25,000 but less than 50,000..........................        2.50       2.564        2.50       2.564        2.50       2.564
50,000 or more.......................................        2.00       2.041        2.00       2.041        2.00       2.041
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         SHORT INTERMEDIATE
                                                               TRUSTS            SHORT TERM TRUSTS
                                                       ----------------------  ----------------------
<S>                                                    <C>          <C>        <C>          <C>        <C>          <C>
                                                         PERCENT     PERCENT     PERCENT     PERCENT
                                                           OF        OF NET        OF        OF NET
                                                        OFFERING     AMOUNT     OFFERING     AMOUNT
                  NUMBER OF UNITS*                        PRICE     INVESTED      PRICE     INVESTED
- -----------------------------------------------------  -----------  ---------  -----------  ---------
Less than 500........................................        3.00%      3.093%       2.50%      2.564%
500 but less than 1,000..............................        2.80       2.881        2.30       2.354
1,000 but less than 2,500............................        2.60       2.670        2.10       2.145
2,500 but less than 5,000............................        2.35       2.407        1.85       1.885
5,000 but less than 10,000...........................        2.10       2.145        1.60       1.626
10,000 but less than 25,000..........................        1.85       1.885        1.35       1.368
25,000 but less than 50,000..........................        1.80       1.833        1.25       1.266
50,000 or more.......................................        1.50       1.523        1.15       1.163
</TABLE>
 
*Breakpoint  sales charges are computed both on  a dollar basis and on the basis
 of the number of Units purchased, using the equivalent of 500 Units to $50,000,
 2,500 Units to $250,000 etc., and will  be applied on that basis which is  more
 favorable to the purchaser.
 
    For  "secondary market"  sales the  Public Offering  Price per  Unit of each
Trust is determined by adding to the Trustee's determination of the BID price of
each Bond in the Trust  a sales charge determined  in accordance with the  table
set forth below based upon the number of years remaining to the maturity of each
such  Bond, adjusting  the total to  reflect the amount  of any cash  held in or
advanced to the principal account  of the Trust and  dividing the result by  the
number  of Units then outstanding. For  purposes of this calculation, Bonds will
be deemed to mature on  their stated maturity dates  unless: (a) the Bonds  have
been  called for redemption or funds or securities have been placed in escrow to
redeem them on  an earlier  call date,  in which case  such call  date shall  be
deemed to be the date upon which they mature; or (b) such Bonds are subject to a
"mandatory put," in which case such mandatory put date shall be deemed to be the
date upon which they
 
                                      A-14
<PAGE>
mature.  Any assumptions regarding maturity made for purposes of determining the
appropriate sales charge  in no way  predict or guarantee  the actual  remaining
life of a given Trust.
 
    Pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, the Trustee may terminate a Trust if
the  net asset value of such Trust, as shown by any evaluation, is less than 20%
of the  original principal  amount of  the  Trust. In  the course  of  regularly
appraising  the  value of  Bonds  in each  Trust,  the Sponsor  will  attempt to
estimate the date on which a Trust's  value will fall below the 20% level  based
on anticipated bond events over a five year period, including maturities, escrow
calls  and  current  calls or  refundings,  assuming certain  market  rates. The
Sponsor intends from time to time to recommend that certain Trusts whose  values
have  fallen or are anticipated to fall  below the 20% level be terminated based
on certain criteria  which could adversely  affect the Trust's  diversification.
Once  the Sponsor has determined that a Trust's  value has or may fall below the
20% level within a five-year period, for purposes of computing the sales  charge
using the table set forth below, the maturity of each bond in such Trust will be
deemed  to be the earlier of the estimated termination date of the Trust, or the
actual date used  when pricing  the bond under  Municipal Securities  Rulemaking
Board rules and interpretations issued thereunder.
 
    The effect of this method of sales charge calculation will be that different
sales  charge rates will  be applied to  the various Bonds  in a Trust portfolio
based upon  the maturities  of  such Bonds,  in  accordance with  the  following
schedule.  As  shown, the  sales charge  on  Bonds in  each maturity  range (and
therefore the aggregate sales charge on the purchase) is reduced with respect to
purchases of at least $50,000 or 500 Units:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  AMOUNT OF PURCHASE*
                             ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>            <C>
                                            $50,000     $100,000     $250,000     $500,000     $1,000,000     $2,500,000
                                UNDER         TO           TO           TO           TO            TO             TO
YEARS TO MATURITY              $50,000      $99,999     $249,999     $499,999     $999,999     $2,499,999     $4,999,999
- ---------------------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -------------  -------------
Less than 1................           0            0            0            0            0             0              0
1 but less than 2..........       1.523%       1.446%       1.369%       1.317%       1.215%        1.061%          .900%
2 but less than 3..........       2.041        1.937        1.833        1.729        1.626         1.420          1.225
3 but less than 4..........       2.564        2.433        2.302        2.175        2.041         1.781          1.546
4 but less than 5..........       3.093        2.961        2.828        2.617        2.459         2.175          1.883
5 but less than 7..........       3.627        3.433        3.239        3.093        2.881         2.460          2.165
7 but less than 10.........       4.167        3.951        3.734        3.520        3.239         2.828          2.489
10 but less than 13........       4.712        4.467        4.221        4.004        3.788         3.253          2.842
13 but less than 16........       5.263        4.988        4.712        4.439        4.167         3.627          3.169
16 or more.................       5.820        5.542        5.263        4.987        4.603         4.004          3.500
 
<CAPTION>
 
<S>                          <C>
 
                              $5,000,000
YEARS TO MATURITY               OR MORE
- ---------------------------  -------------
Less than 1................            0
1 but less than 2..........         .750%
2 but less than 3..........        1.030
3 but less than 4..........        1.310
4 but less than 5..........        1.590
5 but less than 7..........        1.870
7 but less than 10.........        2.150
10 but less than 13........        2.430
13 but less than 16........        2.710
16 or more.................        3.000
</TABLE>
 
 *Breakpoint sales charges are computed both on a dollar basis and on the  basis
  of  the  number of  Units  purchased, using  the  equivalent of  500  Units to
  $50,000, 2,500 Units  to $250,000,  etc., and will  be applied  on that  basis
  which is more favorable to the purchaser.
 
    The  secondary market sales charges above are  expressed as a percent of the
net amount invested; expressed  as a percent of  the Public Offering Price,  the
maximum  sales charge on  any Trust, including one  consisting entirely of Bonds
with 16 years  or more to  maturity, would be  5.50% (5.820% of  the net  amount
invested).  For purposes of illustration, the sales charge on a Trust consisting
entirely of Bonds  maturing in 13  to 16 years  would be 5%  (5.263% of the  net
amount  invested); that on a Trust consisting entirely of Bonds maturing in five
to seven years would be 3.5% (3.627% of the net amount invested); and that on  a
Trust consisting entirely of Bonds maturing in three to four years would be 2.5%
(2.564%  of the net  amount invested). The actual  secondary market sales charge
included in the Public Offering Price of any particular Trust will depend on the
maturities of the Bonds in the portfolio of such Trust.
 
    At all  times while  Units are  being  offered for  sale, the  Sponsor  will
appraise  or cause to  be appraised daily  the value of  the underlying Bonds in
each Trust as of 4:00 p.m. eastern time on each day on which the New York  Stock
Exchange (the "Exchange") is normally
 
                                      A-15
<PAGE>
open  and will adjust the  Public Offering Price of  the Units commensurate with
such appraisal. Such  Public Offering  Price will  be effective  for all  orders
received  by a dealer  or the Sponsor at  or prior to 4:00  p.m. eastern time on
each such day. Orders received after that time, or on a day when the Exchange is
closed for  a  scheduled  holiday  or  weekend, will  be  held  until  the  next
determination of price.
 
   
    As  more fully set forth  in Section 8, accrued  interest from the preceding
Record Date to, but not including,  the settlement date of the transaction  will
be  added to the Public Offering Price to determine the purchase price of Units.
The date of settlement is currently  five business days after purchase. On  June
5,  1995 and June 6,  1995 the date of settlement  will occur four business days
after purchase and commencing  June 7, 1995, the  date of settlement will  occur
three business days after purchase.
    
 
    The  above graduated sales charges will apply on all applicable purchases of
Nuveen investment company securities on any one day by the same purchaser in the
amounts stated, and for this purpose purchases of this Series will be aggregated
with concurrent  purchases of  any other  Series or  of shares  of any  open-end
management  investment company of which the Sponsor is principal underwriter and
with respect to the purchase of which a sales charge is imposed.
 
    Purchases by or for the account of  an individual and his or her spouse  and
children  under 21 years of  age will be aggregated  to determine the applicable
sales charge. The graduated  sales charges are also  applicable to a trustee  or
other  fiduciary  purchasing  securities for  a  single trust  estate  or single
fiduciary account.
 
    Units may be purchased at the  Public Offering Price without a sales  charge
by officers or directors and by bona fide, full-time employees of Nuveen, Nuveen
Advisory Corp., Nuveen Institutional Advisory Corp. and The John Nuveen Company,
including  in each case these individuals and their immediate family members (as
defined above).
 
    Units may be  purchased in  the primary or  secondary market  at the  Public
Offering  Price for  non-breakpoint purchases  minus the  concession the Sponsor
typically allows  to  brokers  and dealers  for  non-breakpoint  purchases  (see
Section  17) by (1)  investors who purchase  Units through registered investment
advisers, certified financial planners and registered broker-dealers who in each
case either charge periodic fees for financial planning, investment advisory  or
asset  management  services, or  provide such  services  in connection  with the
establishment of  an investment  account for  which a  comprehensive "wrap  fee"
charge  is imposed, (2)  bank trust departments investing  funds over which they
exercise exclusive discretionary  investment authority  and that are  held in  a
fiduciary,  agency, custodial  or similar  capacity, (3)  any person  who for at
least 90 days, has been an officer,  director or bona fide employee of any  firm
offering  Units  for sale  to investors  or their  immediate family  members (as
defined above) and  (4) officers and  directors of bank  holding companies  that
make  Units  available  directly  or through  subsidiaries  or  bank affiliates.
Notwithstanding anything to  the contrary  in this  Prospectus, such  investors,
bank  trust departments,  firm employees and  bank holding  company officers and
directors who purchase Units through this program will not receive sales  charge
reductions for quantity purchases.
 
    The  initial or primary Public Offering Price  of the Units in each Trust is
based upon a pro rata share of the OFFERING prices per Unit of the Bonds in such
Trust plus the  applicable sales  charge. The secondary  market Public  Offering
Price of each Trust is based upon a pro rata share of the BID prices per Unit of
the Bonds in such Trust plus the applicable sales charge. The OFFERING prices of
Bonds in a Trust may be expected to average approximately 1% to 2% more than the
BID  prices of such Bonds  in the case of  National, Long Intermediate and State
Trusts, 3/4%  to 1  1/2% in  the  case of  Intermediate and  Short  Intermediate
Trusts,  and  1/2% to  3/4% in  the case  of Short  Term Trusts.  The difference
between the bid side
 
                                      A-16
<PAGE>
evaluation and the offering side  evaluation of the Bonds  in each Trust on  the
business  day prior to  the Date of Deposit  is shown in  the discussion of each
Trust portfolio.
 
    Whether or not Units are being offered for sale, the Sponsor will  determine
the aggregate value of each Trust as of 4:00 p.m. eastern time: (i) on each June
30 or December 31 (or, if such date is not a business day, the last business day
prior  thereto), (ii) on any day on which  a Unit is tendered for redemption (or
the next succeeding business day  if the date of  tender is a non-business  day)
and (iii) at such other times as may be necessary. For this purpose, a "business
day" shall be any day on which the Exchange is normally open. (See Section 16.)
 
7.  MARKET FOR UNITS
 
During  the  initial public  offering period,  the Sponsor  intends to  offer to
purchase Units of each  Trust at a  price equivalent to the  pro rata share  per
Unit  of the OFFERING prices of the Bonds in such Trust (plus accrued interest).
Afterward, although  it  is not  obligated  to do  so,  the Sponsor  intends  to
maintain  a secondary  market for  Units of  each Trust  at its  own expense and
continuously to offer  to purchase  Units of each  Trust at  prices, subject  to
change  at  any time,  which  are based  upon  the BID  prices  of Bonds  in the
respective portfolios of the Trusts. If the supply of Units of any of the Trusts
of this Series exceeds  demand, or for some  other business reason, the  Sponsor
may discontinue purchases of Units of such Trust at such prices. UNITHOLDERS WHO
WISH  TO DISPOSE OF THEIR UNITS SHOULD INQUIRE OF THE TRUSTEE OR THEIR BROKER AS
TO THE  CURRENT  REDEMPTION PRICE  (SEE  SECTION  19). In  connection  with  its
secondary  marketmaking activities, the Sponsor may from time to time enter into
secondary market  joint  account  agreements with  other  brokers  and  dealers.
Pursuant to such an agreement the Sponsor will purchase Units from the broker or
dealer at the bid price and will place the Units into a joint account managed by
the  Sponsor; sales from  the account will  be made in  accordance with the then
current prospectus and the Sponsor and  the broker or dealer will share  profits
and  losses in  the joint account  in accordance  with the terms  of their joint
account agreement.
 
   
    Certificates, if any, for Units are  delivered to the purchaser as  promptly
after  the  date of  settlement as  the  Trustee can  complete the  mechanics of
registration. The  date of  settlement  is currently  five business  days  after
purchase.  On June 5,  1995 and June 6,  1995 the date  of settlement will occur
four business  days after  purchase and  commencing June  7, 1995,  the date  of
settlement   will   occur  three   business   days  after   purchase.  Normally,
Certificates,  if  any,  are  mailed  by  the  Trustee  within  48  hours  after
registration instructions are received. Purchasers of Units to whom Certificates
are  issued will be unable  to exercise any right  of redemption until they have
received their Certificates as tender of the Certificate, properly endorsed  for
transfer. (See Section 19.)
    
 
    Each  Unit of  each respective  Trust initially  offered by  this Prospectus
represents that fractional  undivided interest  in such  Trust as  is set  forth
under "Essential Information Regarding the Trusts." To the extent that any Units
of  any Trust are  redeemed by the  Trustee, the aggregate  value of the Trust's
assets will decrease  by the amount  paid to the  redeeming Unitholder, but  the
fractional  undivided  interest  of  each unredeemed  Unit  in  such  Trust will
increase proportionately.  The Sponsor  will initially,  and from  time to  time
thereafter, hold Units in connection with their offering.
 
8.  WHAT IS ACCRUED INTEREST?
 
Accrued  interest is the accumulation of unpaid interest on a bond from the last
day on which  interest thereon  was paid.  Interest on  Bonds in  each Trust  is
accounted  for daily on an accrual basis. For this reason, the purchase price of
Units of a Trust will  include not only the Public  Offering Price but also  the
proportionate share of accrued interest to the
 
                                      A-17
<PAGE>
date  of settlement. Interest  accrues to the  benefit of Unitholders commencing
with the settlement date of their purchase transaction.
 
    Accrued interest does not include accrual of original issue discount on zero
coupon bonds, Stripped Obligations or other original issue discount bonds.  (See
"Summary  of Portfolios--General Trust Information" and  "What Is The Tax Status
of Unitholders.")
 
   
    In an effort to reduce the  amount of accrued interest that investors  would
have  to pay in addition to the Public Offering Price, the Trustee has agreed to
advance to each Trust the amount of accrued interest due on the Bonds as of  the
Date  of Deposit (which has been designated  the first Record Date for all plans
of distribution).  This accrued  interest will  be paid  to the  Sponsor as  the
holder  of record of  all Units on  the Date of  Deposit. Consequently, when the
Sponsor sells Units of a  Trust, the amount of accrued  interest to be added  to
the  Public Offering Price to determine the  purchase price of the Units of such
Trust purchased by an investor will include only accrued interest from the  Date
of  Deposit to,  but not  including, the  date of  settlement of  the investor's
purchase, less any distributions from the related Interest Account. The date  of
settlement  is currently five business days after  purchase. On June 5, 1995 and
June 6, 1995 the date of settlement will occur four business days after purchase
and commencing June 7,  1995, the date of  settlement will occur three  business
days after purchase. The Trustee will recover its advancements (without interest
or  other cost to the  Trusts) from interest received  on the Bonds deposited in
each Trust.
    
 
    The Trustee has no  cash for distribution to  Unitholders until it  receives
interest  payments on the Bonds in the  Trusts. Since municipal bond interest is
accrued daily but  paid only  semi-annually, during  the initial  months of  the
Trusts,  the Interest Accounts,  consisting of accrued  but uncollected interest
and collected interest  (cash), will  be predominantly  the uncollected  accrued
interest that is not available for distribution. However, due to advances by the
Trustee,  the Trustee will provide a first distribution between approximately 30
and 60 days after the Date of Deposit. Assuming each Trust retains its  original
size  and composition  and expenses  and fees  remain the  same, annual interest
collected and distributed  will approximate  the estimated  Net Annual  Interest
Income  stated herein. However, the  amount of accrued interest  at any point in
time will  be  greater than  the  amount that  the  Trustee will  have  actually
received and distributed to the Unitholders. Therefore, there will always remain
an  item of  accrued interest  that is  included in  the Purchase  Price and the
redemption price of the Units.
 
   
    Interest is accounted  for daily and  a proportionate share  of accrued  and
undistributed  interest computed from the preceding  Record Date is added to the
daily valuation of each Unit  of each Trust. (See Sections  3 and 13.) As  Bonds
mature,  or are redeemed or sold, the  accrued interest applicable to such bonds
is collected and subsequently distributed  to Unitholders. Unitholders who  sell
or redeem all or a portion of their Units will be paid their proportionate share
of  the remaining accrued interest to, but not including, the fifth business day
following the date of sale  or tender. Unitholders who sell  or redeem all or  a
portion  of  their  Units on  June  7, 1995  or  thereafter will  be  paid their
proportionate share of the remaining accrued interest to, but not including, the
third business day following the date of sale or tender.
    
 
9.  WHAT ARE ESTIMATED LONG TERM RETURN AND ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN?
 
The Estimated Long Term Return for each Trust is a measure of the return to  the
investor  earned over the estimated  life of the Trust.  The Estimated Long Term
Return represents an average of the yields to maturity (or call) of the Bonds in
the Trust's portfolio calculated in  accordance with accepted bond practice  and
adjusted  to reflect expenses  and sales charges.  Under accepted bond practice,
tax-exempt bonds are customarily offered to investors on a "yield price"  basis,
which  involves  computation  of  yield  to  maturity  or  to  an  earlier  call
 
                                      A-18
<PAGE>
date (whichever produces the lower yield), and which takes into account not only
the interest payable on the  bonds but also the  amortization or accretion to  a
specified  date of any premium over or discount from the par (maturity) value in
the bond's  purchase  price. In  calculating  Estimated Long  Term  Return,  the
average  yield for  the Trust's  portfolio is  derived by  weighting each Bond's
yield by the market value of the Bond and by the amount of time remaining to the
date to which the Bond is priced. Once the average portfolio yield is  computed,
this  figure is then reduced to reflect estimated expenses and the effect of the
maximum  sales  charge  paid  by  investors.  The  Estimated  Long  Term  Return
calculation  does not take into account the effect of a first distribution which
may be less than a  regular distribution or may be  paid at some point after  30
days  (or a second distribution which may be less than a normal distribution for
Unitholders who choose quarterly or  semi-annual plans of distribution), and  it
also  does  not  take into  account  the  difference in  timing  of  payments to
Unitholders who choose quarterly or  semi-annual plans of distribution, each  of
which will reduce the return.
 
    Estimated  Current Return  is computed by  dividing the  Net Annual Interest
Income per Unit by the Public Offering Price. In contrast to Estimated Long Term
Return, Estimated Current Return does not reflect the amortization of premium or
accretion of discount, if any, on the Bonds in the Trust's portfolio. Net Annual
Interest Income per Unit is calculated by dividing the annual interest income to
the Trust, less estimated expenses, by the number of Units outstanding.
 
    Net Annual Interest  Income per  Unit, used to  calculate Estimated  Current
Return,  will vary  with changes  in fees  and expenses  of the  Trustee and the
Evaluator and with the redemption, maturity, exchange or sale of Bonds. A  Trust
may  experience expenses and  portfolio changes different  from those assumed in
the calculation of Estimated  Long Term Return. There  thus can be no  assurance
that  the Estimated Current Returns or Estimated Long Term Returns quoted herein
will  be  realized  in  the  future.  A  Unitholder's  actual  return  may  vary
significantly  from  the  Estimated  Long-Term Return,  based  on  their holding
period, market  interest rate  changes, other  factors affecting  the prices  of
individual  bonds  in  the  portfolio,  and  differences  between  the  expected
remaining life of portfolio bonds and the actual length of time that they remain
in the Trust; such actual holding periods  may be reduced by termination of  the
Trust,  as described in "AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF INDENTURE." Since both the
Estimated Current Return and  the Estimated Long Term  Return quoted herein  are
based  on the market value of the underlying  Bonds on the business day prior to
the Date of Deposit, subsequent calculations of these performance measures  will
reflect  the then current market value of the underlying Bonds and may be higher
or lower.
 
    A portion of the  monies received by  a Trust may be  treated, in the  first
year  only, as a return of principal due to the inclusion in the Trust portfolio
of "when-issued"  or  other  Bonds  having delivery  dates  after  the  date  of
settlement  for purchases  made on  the Date of  Deposit. A  consequence of this
treatment is that in the computation  of Estimated Current Return for the  first
year, such monies are excluded from Net Annual Interest Income and treated as an
adjustment  to the Public Offering  Price. (See "Essential Information Regarding
the Trusts" and Sections 4 and 11.)
 
    For a statement of the Net Annual Interest Income per Unit under the monthly
plan of  distribution,  and Estimated  Long  Term Yield  and  Estimated  Current
Returns based on the Public Offering Prices of the Trusts in this Series, all as
of  the day prior to  the Date of Deposit,  see "Essential Information Regarding
the Trusts."
 
10.  HOW WAS THE PRICE OF THE BONDS DETERMINED AT THE DATE OF DEPOSIT?
 
The prices at which the Bonds deposited in the Trusts would have been offered to
the public on the business day prior  to the Date of Deposit were determined  by
the Trustee on the basis
 
                                      A-19
<PAGE>
of  an evaluation  of such  Bonds prepared by  Kenny S&P  Evaluation Services, a
division of J. J. Kenny Co., Inc.,  a firm regularly engaged in the business  of
evaluating,  quoting or  appraising comparable bonds.  With respect  to Bonds in
Insured Trusts and  insured Bonds  in Traditional Trusts,  Kenny S&P  Evaluation
Services,  a  division of  J.  J. Kenny  Co., Inc.,  evaluated  the Bonds  as so
insured. (See Section 5).
 
    The amount by which  the Trustee's determination of  the OFFERING PRICES  of
the  Bonds deposited  in the Trusts  was greater or  less than the  cost of such
Bonds to  the  Sponsor was  PROFIT  OR LOSS  to  the Sponsor  exclusive  of  any
underwriting  profit.  (See Section  3.) The  Sponsor  also may  realize FURTHER
PROFIT OR  SUSTAIN  FURTHER LOSS  as  a result  of  fluctuations in  the  Public
Offering  Price of the Units. Cash, if  any, made available to the Sponsor prior
to the settlement date for a purchase  of Units, or prior to the acquisition  of
all  Portfolio securities by a Trust, may  be available for use in the Sponsor's
business, and may be of benefit to the Sponsor.
 
11.  WHAT IS THE TAX STATUS OF UNITHOLDERS?
 
At the  respective times  of issuance  of  the Bonds  opinions relating  to  the
validity  thereof and to  the exemption of interest  thereon from Federal income
tax were rendered  by bond  counsel to  the respective  issuing authorities.  In
addition,  with respect to  State Trusts, where applicable,  bond counsel to the
issuing authorities rendered opinions  as to the exemption  of interest on  such
Bonds,  when held by residents  of the state in which  the issuers of such Bonds
are located, from state income taxes and certain state or local intangibles  and
local  income taxes.  For a  discussion of  the tax  status of  State Trusts see
"Summary of  Portfolios--  Tax Status"  for  the respective  State  Trust.  (See
Sections  2 and 3.)  Neither the Sponsor  nor its counsel  have made any special
review for the Trusts of the proceedings  relating to the issuance of the  Bonds
or of the basis for the opinions rendered in connection therewith.
 
    Taxpayers  must  disclose  on  their  Federal  tax  returns  the  amount  of
tax-exempt  interest  earned  during  the  year.  Federally  tax-exempt  income,
including  income on Units  of the Trusts,  will be taken  into consideration in
computing the portion, if any, of social security benefits received that will be
included in a taxpayer's gross income subject to the Federal income tax.
 
    Gain realized on the sale or redemption of the Bonds by the Trustee or of  a
Unit  by  a Unitholder  is includable  in  gross income  for Federal  income tax
purposes, and may be  includable in gross income  for state tax purposes.  (Such
gain  does not include  any amounts received  in respect of  accrued interest or
accrued original issue discount, if any.)  A portion of a Unitholder's gain,  to
the extent of accreted market discount, may be treated as ordinary income rather
than capital gain if the Bonds were purchased by a Trust at a market discount or
if  the Unitholder purchased his  or her Units at a  market discount on or after
April 30, 1993. Market discount can arise based on the price the Trust pays  for
the Bonds or the price a Unitholder pays for his or her Units.
 
    In the opinion of Chapman and Cutler, Counsel to the Sponsor, under existing
law:
 
    (1) the  Trusts  are not  associations taxable  as corporations  for Federal
        income tax purposes. Tax-exempt interest received by each of the  Trusts
        on  Bonds  deposited  therein  will  retain  its  status  as  tax-exempt
        interest, for Federal income tax  purposes, when received by the  Trusts
        and  when distributed  to the  Unitholders, except  that the alternative
        minimum tax and  environmental tax (the  "Superfund Tax") applicable  to
        corporate  Unitholders  may, in  certain  circumstances, include  in the
        amount on which  such taxes  are calculated  a portion  of the  interest
        income  received by  the Trust. See  "Certain Tax  Matters Applicable to
        Corporate Unitholders", below;
 
                                      A-20
<PAGE>
    (2) each Unitholder of a Trust is considered  to be the owner of a pro  rata
        portion  of such Trust under Subpart E, subchapter J of Chapter 1 of the
        Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code") and will have a taxable event
        when the Trust  disposes of  a Bond or  when the  Unitholder redeems  or
        sells  Units. Unitholders must  reduce the tax basis  of their Units for
        their share of accrued interest received by the Trust, if any, on  Bonds
        delivered  after  the  date the  Unitholders  pay for  their  Units and,
        consequently, such Unitholders may have  an increase in taxable gain  or
        reduction  in capital loss  upon the disposition of  such Units. Gain or
        loss upon the sale or redemption  of Units is measured by comparing  the
        proceeds  of  such sale  or redemption  with the  adjusted basis  of the
        Units. If the  Trustee disposes of  Bonds (whether by  sale, payment  at
        maturity,  redemption or otherwise),  gain or loss  is recognized to the
        Unitholder. The amount of any such gain or loss is measured by comparing
        the Unitholder's  pro  rata  share  of  the  total  proceeds  from  such
        disposition  with  the  Unitholder's  basis for  his  or  her fractional
        interest in  the asset  disposed of.  In the  case of  a Unitholder  who
        purchases Units, such basis (before adjustment for earned original issue
        discount   and  amortized  bond  premium,   if  any)  is  determined  by
        apportioning the  cost of  the  Units among  each  of the  Trust  assets
        ratably  according to value as of the  date of acquisition of the Units.
        The  tax  cost   reduction  requirements  of   said  Code  relating   to
        amortization  of bond premium  may, under some  circumstances, result in
        the Unitholder realizing a taxable gain  when his or her Units are  sold
        or redeemed for an amount equal to their original cost; and
 
    (3) any  amounts paid on defaulted Bonds  held by the Trustee under policies
        of insurance issued with respect to  such Bonds will be excludable  from
        Federal  gross income if, and to the same extent as, such interest would
        have been so excludable if paid by the respective issuer provided  that,
        at  the  time such  policies are  purchased, the  amounts paid  for such
        policies are reasonable,  customary and consistent  with the  reasonable
        expectation  that the issuer of the bonds, rather than the insurer, will
        pay debt  service  on  the  bonds. Paragraph  (2)  of  this  opinion  is
        accordingly   applicable  to   policy  proceeds   representing  maturing
        interest.
 
In the opinion of Carter, Ledyard & Milburn, counsel to the Trustee, and, in the
absence of a New York Trust from the Series, special counsel for the Series  for
New York tax matters, under existing law:
 
        Under  the income tax laws of the State and City of New York, each Trust
    is not an association taxable as a corporation and the income of each  Trust
    will be treated as the income of the Unitholders.
 
    For  a summary of  each opinion of  special counsel to  the respective State
Trusts for state tax matters, see Section 3.
 
    ALL STATEMENTS IN THE PROSPECTUS CONCERNING EXEMPTION FROM FEDERAL, STATE OR
OTHER TAXES ARE THE OPINION OF COUNSEL AND ARE TO BE SO CONSTRUED.
 
    The redemption of Units in a Trust  by a Unitholder would result in each  of
the  remaining Unitholders of said Trust owning a greater proportionate interest
in the remaining assets  of said Trust. Although  present law does not  directly
address  this matter, it  would appear reasonable  that a remaining Unitholder's
tax basis in  his Units would  include his proportionate  share of any  proceeds
received by the Trust on the sale of bonds which were not distributed to him but
were  instead used by  the Trust to redeem  Units and that his  tax basis in the
remaining assets of the  Trust would accordingly be  increased by such share  of
proceeds, based on the relative fair market value of the remaining assets of the
Trust as of the date of such redemption.
 
    Sections  1288 and 1272 of the Code provide a complex set of rules governing
the accrual of original issue discount. These rules provide that original  issue
discount accrues either on
 
                                      A-21
<PAGE>
the  basis of a constant compound interest rate  or ratably over the term of the
Bond, depending on  the date  the Bond was  issued. In  addition, special  rules
apply  if the purchase price of a Bond exceeds the original issue price plus the
amount of original issue discount which would have previously accrued based upon
its issue price  (its "adjusted issue  price"). The application  of these  rules
will  also vary  depending on  the value of  the Bond  on the  date a Unitholder
acquires his Units, and the price the Unitholder pays for his Units. The accrual
of tax-exempt original issue  discount on zero coupon  bonds and other  original
issue  discount bonds will  result in an  increase in the  Unitholder's basis in
such obligations and, accordingly, in his basis in his Units.
 
    The Tax Act subjects  tax-exempt bonds to the  market discount rules of  the
Code  effective for  bonds purchased  after April  30, 1993.  In general, market
discount is the amount (if any) by which the stated redemption price at maturity
exceeds an investor's purchase price (except to the extent that such difference,
if any, is attributable to original  issue discount not yet accrued). Under  the
Tax Act, accretion of market discount is taxable as ORDINARY INCOME; under prior
law,  the  accretion had  been  treated as  capital  gain. Market  discount that
accretes while the Trust holds a Bond would be recognized as ordinary income  by
the  Unitholders when principal payments are received  on the Bond, upon sale or
at redemption (including early  redemption), or upon the  sale or redemption  of
his  or her  Units, unless  a Unitholder  elects to  include market  discount in
taxable income  as  it  accrues.  The market  discount  rules  are  complex  and
Unitholders  should consult their  tax advisors regarding  these rules and their
application.
 
    The Internal Revenue Code provides that interest on indebtedness incurred or
continued to purchase  or carry  obligations, the  interest on  which is  wholly
exempt  from Federal income taxes, is not deductible. Because each Unitholder is
treated for Federal income tax purposes as the owner of a pro rata share of  the
Bonds owned by the applicable Trust, interest on borrowed funds used to purchase
or  carry Units  of such  Trust will  not be  deductible for  Federal income tax
purposes. Under rules used by the Internal Revenue Service for determining  when
borrowed  funds are  considered used for  the purpose of  purchasing or carrying
particular assets, the  purchase of Units  may be considered  to have been  made
with borrowed funds even though the borrowed funds are not directly traceable to
the  purchase of Units (however, these rules  generally do not apply to interest
paid on  indebtedness incurred  to purchase  or improve  a personal  residence).
Similar  rules are  generally applicable for  state tax  purposes. Special rules
apply in  the  case  of  certain  financial  institutions  that  acquire  Units.
Investors  with questions regarding  these issues should  consult with their tax
advisers.
 
    In general,  each  issue  of bonds  in  the  Trusts is  subject  to  certain
post-issuance  requirements which must be  met in order for  the interest on the
Bonds to be and remain exempt from Federal income taxation. Bond counsel to each
issuer generally has opined that, assuming continuing compliance by such issuers
with certain covenants, interest on such  Bonds will continue to be exempt  from
Federal income taxation (other than with respect to the application to corporate
Unitholders  of the alternative  minimum tax or the  Superfund Tax, as discussed
below).
 
    For purposes of computing  the alternative minimum  tax for individuals  and
corporations, interest on certain specified tax-exempt private activity bonds is
included as a preference item. The Trusts do not include any such bonds.
 
    For  taxpayers  other than  corporations,  net capital  gains  are presently
subject to a maximum tax  rate of 28 percent. However,  it should be noted  that
legislative proposals are introduced from time to time that affect tax rates and
could affect relative differences at which ordinary income and capital gains are
taxed.
 
                                      A-22
<PAGE>
    CERTAIN  TAX MATTERS  APPLICABLE TO  CORPORATE UNITHOLDERS.  In the  case of
certain corporations, the alternative minimum  tax and the Superfund Tax  depend
upon the corporation's alternative minimum taxable income ("AMTI"), which is the
corporation's  taxable income  with certain  adjustments. One  of the adjustment
items used in computing AMTI and the Superfund Tax of a corporation (other  than
an S corporation, Regulated Investment Company, Real Estate Investment Trust, or
REMIC)  is an amount equal to 75%  of the excess of such corporation's "adjusted
current earnings" over an amount equal to its AMTI (before such adjustment  item
and  the  alternative tax  net  operation loss  deduction).  Although tax-exempt
interest received by each of the Trusts  on Bonds deposited therein will not  be
included  in the gross  income of corporations for  Federal income tax purposes,
"adjusted current earnings" includes all tax-exempt interest, including interest
on all Bonds in the Trust and tax-exempt original issue discount.
 
    Corporate Unitholders  are urged  to  consult their  own tax  advisers  with
respect  to the particular tax consequences  to them resulting under the Federal
tax law, including the corporate alternative minimum tax, the Superfund Tax  and
the branch profits tax imposed by Section 884 of the Code.
 
    EXCEPT  AS NOTED ABOVE AND IN SECTION  3, THE EXEMPTION OF INTEREST ON STATE
AND LOCAL  OBLIGATIONS FOR  FEDERAL  INCOME TAX  PURPOSES DOES  NOT  NECESSARILY
RESULT IN EXEMPTION UNDER THE INCOME OR OTHER TAX LAWS OF ANY STATE OR CITY. THE
LAWS  OF  THE  SEVERAL  STATES  VARY  WITH  RESPECT  TO  THE  TAXATION  OF  SUCH
OBLIGATIONS.
 
12.  WHAT ARE NORMAL TRUST OPERATING EXPENSES?
 
No annual advisory fee is charged the  Trusts by the Sponsor. The Sponsor  does,
however,  receive a fee  of $0.17 per  annum per $1,000  principal amount of the
underlying Bonds  in each  Trust  for regularly  evaluating  the Bonds  and  for
maintaining surveillance over the portfolio. (See Section 16.)
 
    The  Trustee receives for ordinary recurring services an annual fee for each
plan of  distribution for  each Trust  as set  forth in  "Essential  Information
Regarding  the Trusts." Each  annual fee is  per $1,000 principal  amount of the
underlying Bonds in  a Trust for  that portion  of the Trust  that represents  a
particular  plan of distribution. The Trustee's fee may be periodically adjusted
in response to fluctuations in short-term interest rates (reflecting the cost to
the Trustee of advancing funds to  a Trust to meet scheduled distributions)  and
may be further adjusted in accordance with the cumulative percentage increase of
the  United  States Department  of Labor's  Consumer  Price Index  entitled "All
Services Less Rent" since the establishment  of the Trusts. The Trustee has  the
use  of funds, if any, being held in the Interest and Principal Accounts of each
Trust for  future  distributions, payment  of  expenses and  redemptions.  These
Accounts  are non-interest  bearing to  Unitholders. Pursuant  to normal banking
procedures, the Trustee benefits from the use of funds held therein. Part of the
Trustee's compensation for its services to  the Fund is expected to result  from
such use of these funds.
 
    Premiums  for the policies  of insurance obtained  by the Sponsor  or by the
Bond issuers with respect to the Bonds in the Insured Trusts and with respect to
insured Bonds in Traditional Trusts have been paid in full prior to the  deposit
of the Bonds in the Trusts, and the value of such insurance has been included in
the evaluation of the Bonds in each Trust and accordingly in the Public Offering
Price  of Units of each Trust. There  are no annual continuing premiums for such
insurance.
 
    The Sponsor has borne all costs of creating and establishing the Trusts. The
following are  expenses of  the Trusts  and, when  paid by  or are  owed to  the
Trustee,  are secured by  a lien on the  assets of the Trust  or Trusts to which
such expenses are allocable: (1) the expenses and costs of any action undertaken
by   the    Trustee   to    protect   the    Trusts   and    the   rights    and
 
                                      A-23
<PAGE>
interests  of the Unitholders; (2) all taxes and other governmental charges upon
the Bonds or any part of the Trusts  (no such taxes or charges are being  levied
or  made or, to the knowledge of the Sponsor, contemplated); (3) amounts payable
to the Trustee  as fees for  ordinary recurring services  and for  extraordinary
non-recurring services rendered pursuant to the Indenture, all disbursements and
expenses  including  counsel  fees (including  fees  of bond  counsel  which the
Trustee  may  retain)  sustained  or  incurred  by  the  Trustee  in  connection
therewith;  and (4)  any losses or  liabilities accruing to  the Trustee without
negligence, bad  faith  or  willful  misconduct on  its  part.  The  Trustee  is
empowered to sell Bonds in order to pay these amounts if funds are not otherwise
available in the applicable Interest and Principal Accounts.
 
    The  Indenture requires each Trust  to be audited on  an annual basis at the
expense of the Trust by independent public accountants selected by the  Sponsor.
The  Trustee  shall not  be  required, however,  to cause  such  an audit  to be
performed if its cost to a Trust shall exceed $.05 per Unit on an annual  basis.
Unitholders  of a  Trust covered by  an audit may  obtain a copy  of the audited
financial statements upon request.
 
13.  WHEN ARE DISTRIBUTIONS MADE TO UNITHOLDERS?
 
Interest received by the Trustee on the Bonds in each Trust, including that part
of the proceeds of  any disposition of Bonds  which represents accrued  interest
and  including  any insurance  proceeds representing  interest due  on defaulted
Bonds, shall be credited to the "Interest  Account" of such Trust and all  other
moneys  received by the Trustee shall be  credited to the "Principal Account" of
such Trust.
 
    The pro rata share of  cash in the Principal Account  in each Trust will  be
computed as of each semi-annual Record Date and distributions to the Unitholders
as of such Record Date will be made on or shortly after the fifteenth day of the
month. Proceeds received from the disposition, including sale, call or maturity,
of  any of the Bonds and all amounts  paid with respect to zero coupon bonds and
Stripped Obligations will be  held in the Principal  Account and either used  to
pay  for Units  redeemed or distributed  on the Distribution  Date following the
next semi-annual Record Date. The Trustee is not required to make a distribution
from the  Principal  Account  of  any Trust  unless  the  amount  available  for
distribution in such account equals at least ten cents per Unit.
 
    The pro rata share of the Interest Account in each Trust will be computed by
the  Trustee each month as of each Record Date and distributions will be made on
or shortly after the fifteenth day of the month to Unitholders of such Trust  as
of the Record Date who are entitled to distributions at that time under the plan
of  distribution chosen. Persons who purchase Units  between a Record Date and a
Distribution Date will receive their first distribution on the Distribution Date
following the next Record Date under the applicable plan of distribution.
 
    Purchasers of  Units  who desire  to  receive interest  distributions  on  a
monthly or quarterly basis may elect to do so at the time of purchase during the
initial  public offering  period. Those indicating  no choice will  be deemed to
have chosen the  semi-annual distribution  plan. All  Unitholders, however,  who
purchase  Units during the initial  public offering period and  who hold them of
record on the first Record Date will receive the first distribution of interest.
Thereafter, Record Dates for monthly distributions will be the first day of each
month; Record  Dates  for quarterly  distributions  will  be the  first  day  of
February,   May,  August  and   November;  and  Record   Dates  for  semi-annual
distributions will be the first day of May and November.
 
    Details of distributions  per Unit  of each  Trust under  the various  plans
based upon estimated Net Annual Interest Income at the Date of Deposit are shown
in  the tables appearing in  Section 3. The amount  of the regular distributions
will remain the same so long as
 
                                      A-24
<PAGE>
each Trust portfolio remains the same and fees and expenses remain the same, and
will generally change when Bonds are redeemed,  mature or are sold or when  fees
and expenses increase or decrease.
 
    The  plan of  distribution selected  by a  Unitholder will  remain in effect
until changed.  Unitholders  purchasing  Units  in  the  secondary  market  will
initially  receive distributions  in accordance with  the election  of the prior
owner. Unitholders desiring to  change their plan of  distribution may do so  by
sending   a   written  notice   requesting   the  change,   together   with  any
Certificate(s), to  the  Trustee. The  notice  and any  Certificate(s)  must  be
received  by  the Trustee  not  later than  the  semi-annual Record  Date  to be
effective  as  of   the  semi-annual  distribution   following  the   subsequent
semi-annual  Record Date.  Unitholders are  requested to  make any  such changes
within 45 days prior to the applicable Record Date. Certificates should only  be
sent  by registered or certified mail to minimize the possibility of their being
lost or stolen. (See Section 18.) If no notice is received in proper form by the
Trustee, the Unitholder  will be  deemed to have  elected to  continue the  same
plan.
 
    As  of the first day of each month the Trustee will deduct from the Interest
Account of a Trust or, to the extent funds are not sufficient therein, from  the
Principal  Account of a  Trust, amounts needed  for payment of  expenses of such
Trust. The Trustee also may withdraw from said accounts such amount, if any,  as
it  deems necessary to establish a  reserve for any governmental charges payable
out of such Trust. Amounts  so withdrawn shall not be  considered a part of  the
Trust's  assets until such time  as the Trustee shall return  all or any part of
such amounts to the appropriate account.
 
    For the purpose  of minimizing  fluctuations in the  distributions from  the
Interest  Account of a Trust, the Trustee  is authorized to advance such amounts
as may be necessary to provide for interest distributions of approximately equal
amounts. The  Trustee  shall  be  reimbursed, without  interest,  for  any  such
advances  from funds in  the Interest Account  of such Trust.  The Trustee's fee
takes into account  the costs attributable  to the outlay  of capital needed  to
make such advances.
 
    The  Trustee  shall withdraw  from the  Interest  Account and  the Principal
Account of a  Trust such amounts  as may  be necessary to  cover redemptions  of
Units of such Trust by the Trustee. (See Section 19.)
 
    Funds  which are available for future distributions, redemptions and payment
of expenses are held in accounts  which are non-interest bearing to  Unitholders
and are available for use by the Trustee pursuant to normal banking procedures.
 
14.  ACCUMULATION PLAN
 
The  Sponsor, John Nuveen & Co.  Incorporated, is also the principal underwriter
of the  Nuveen Municipal  Bond Fund,  Inc. (the  "Bond Fund"),  Nuveen  Tax-Free
Reserves, Inc. ("Tax-Free Reserves"), Nuveen California Tax-Free Fund, Inc. (the
"California  Fund"),  Nuveen Tax-Free  Bond Fund,  Inc. ("Tax-Free  Bond Fund"),
Nuveen Insured Tax-Free  Bond Fund, Inc.  (the "Insured Bond  Fund") and  Nuveen
Tax-Free  Money  Market Fund,  Inc.  (the "Money  Market  Fund") and  the Nuveen
Multistate  Tax-Free  Trust  (the  "Multistate  Trust").  Each  of  these  funds
(together,  the  "Accumulation Funds")  is  an open-end,  diversified management
investment  company  into  which  Unitholders  may  choose  to  reinvest   Trust
distributions  automatically,  without any  sales  charge. (Reinvestment  in the
California Fund is available only  to Unitholders who are California  residents.
Reinvestment in the State Portfolios of the Tax-Free Bond Fund, the Insured Bond
Fund,  the  Money Market  Fund and  the  Multistate Trust  is available  only to
Unitholders who  are residents  of  the states  for  which such  portfolios  are
named.)  Unitholders may reinvest  both interest and  principal distributions or
principal distributions only. Each  Accumulation Fund has investment  objectives
which  differ in  certain respects from  those of  the Trusts and  may invest in
securities which
 
                                      A-25
<PAGE>
would not be eligible for deposit in the Trusts. The investment adviser to  each
Accumulation  Fund is  Nuveen Advisory Corp.,  a wholly-owned  subsidiary of the
Sponsor. The following is a general description of the investment objectives and
policies of each Accumulation Fund. For a more detailed description, Unitholders
should  read  the  prospectus  of  the  Accumulation  Fund  in  which  they  are
interested.
 
THE BOND FUND
 
    The  Bond  Fund has  the  objective of  providing,  through investment  in a
professionally managed portfolio of long-term  municipal bonds, as high a  level
of  current interest income exempt from Federal income tax as is consistent with
preservation of capital. The Bond Fund  may include in its portfolio  tax-exempt
bonds  rated Baa or BBB or better by Moody's or Standard & Poor's, unrated bonds
which, in the  opinion of  the investment adviser,  have credit  characteristics
equivalent  to  bonds  rated  Baa  or  BBB  or  better,  and  certain  temporary
investments, including securities the interest income from which may be  subject
to Federal income tax.
 
TAX-FREE RESERVES
 
    Tax-Free  Reserves is a  "money market" fund that  includes in its portfolio
only obligations  maturing  within  one  year  from  the  date  of  acquisition,
maintains an average maturity of all investments of 120 days or less, values its
portfolio at amortized cost and seeks to maintain a net asset value of $1.00 per
share. It provides checkwriting and expedited wire redemption privileges for its
shareholders.   Tax-Free  Reserves  has  the  objective  of  providing,  through
investment in  a professionally  managed portfolio  of high  quality  short-term
municipal  obligations, as high  a level of current  interest income exempt from
Federal income  tax  as is  consistent  with  preservation of  capital  and  the
maintenance  of  liquidity.  Tax-Free  Reserves  may  include  in  its portfolio
municipal obligations rated Aaa, Aa, MIG-1, VMIG-1 or Prime-1 by Moody's or AAA,
AA, SP-1 or A-1 by Standard & Poor's, unrated municipal obligations that, in the
opinion of the  investment adviser,  have credit  characteristics equivalent  to
obligations   rated  as  above,  tax-exempt   obligations  backed  by  the  U.S.
Government, and temporary investments that may be subject to Federal income tax.
 
THE CALIFORNIA FUND
 
    The California Fund has  the objective of  providing, through investment  in
professionally managed portfolios of California municipal obligations, as high a
level  of current interest income exempt from both Federal and California income
taxes as is consistent with the investment policies of each of the portfolios of
the California Fund  and with  preservation of  capital. Each  portfolio of  the
California  Fund may include  temporary investments that may  be subject to tax.
California Unitholders may reinvest in one of three portfolios of the California
Fund: The Nuveen California Tax-Free  Value Fund, the Nuveen California  Insured
Tax-Free Value Fund and the Nuveen California Tax-Free Money Market Fund.
 
    The  Nuveen California  Tax-Free Value  Fund invests  primarily in long-term
investment grade  California tax-exempt  bonds (I.E.,  bonds rated  in the  four
highest  categories by Moody's  or Standard &  Poor's or, if  unrated, that have
equivalent credit characteristics). The Nuveen California Insured Tax-Free Value
Fund invests  primarily in  the same  type of  investments as  the Special  Bond
Portfolio, each of which is covered by insurance guaranteeing the timely payment
of  principal  and  interest  or  is backed  by  a  deposit  of  U.S. Government
securities.
 
    The Nuveen  California  Tax-Free  Money Market  Fund  invests  primarily  in
high-quality  short term  California tax-exempt money  market instruments (I.E.,
obligations rated in the two highest categories by Moody's or Standard &  Poor's
or,  if unrated,  that have  equivalent credit  characteristics). This portfolio
will include only obligations maturing within one year
 
                                      A-26
<PAGE>
from the  date  of  acquisition,  will  maintain  an  average  maturity  of  all
investments  of 120 days or less, will value its portfolio at amortized cost and
will seek  to  maintain  a net  asset  value  of $1.00  per  share.  The  Nuveen
California  Tax-Free Money Market Fund provides for an expedited wire redemption
privilege.
 
THE TAX-FREE BOND FUND
 
    The Tax-Free Bond Fund consists  of the Nuveen Massachusetts Tax-Free  Value
Fund,  the Nuveen New York  Tax-Free Value Fund, the  Nuveen Ohio Tax-Free Value
Fund, and the Nuveen  New Jersey Tax-Free Value  Fund, which are each  available
for  reinvestment to Unitholders who  are residents of the  state for which such
portfolio is  named. The  Tax-Free Bond  Fund has  the objective  of  providing,
through  investment in a professionally managed portfolio of municipal bonds, as
high a level of current interest income exempt both from Federal income tax  and
from  the  income  tax  imposed  by  each  portfolio's  designated  state  as is
consistent with preservation of capital. The  Tax-Free Bond Fund may include  in
each  of its  portfolios tax-exempt  bonds rated Baa  or BBB  or better; unrated
bonds  which,  in   the  opinion   of  the  investment   adviser,  have   credit
characteristics  equivalent to  bonds rated  Baa or  BBB or  better; and certain
temporary investments, including securities the  interest income from which  may
be subject to Federal and state income tax.
 
THE INSURED BOND FUND
 
    The  Insured Bond Fund  consists of the Nuveen  Insured Municipal Bond Fund,
the Nuveen Massachusetts  Insured Tax-Free Value  Fund and the  Nuveen New  York
Insured  Tax-Free  Value  Fund, which  are  each available  for  reinvestment to
Unitholders. (The Massachusetts and  New York Portfolios  are available only  to
those  Unitholders who  are residents  of the state  for which  the portfolio is
named.) The Insured Bond Fund has the objective of providing, through investment
in professionally managed  portfolios of  municipal bonds,  as high  a level  of
current  interest income exempt from both Federal income tax and, in the case of
designated state portfolios,  from the  income tax imposed  by each  portfolio's
designated  state, as  is consistent with  preservation of  capital. The Insured
Bond Fund may include in each of its portfolios the same type of investments  as
the  Tax-Free Bond Fund, each of which  is covered by insurance guaranteeing the
timely payment of  principal and  interest or  is backed  by a  deposit of  U.S.
Government securities.
 
THE MONEY MARKET FUND
 
    The  Money Market Fund  consists of the  Nuveen Massachusetts Tax-Free Money
Market Fund and the Nuveen New York  Tax-Free Money Market Fund, which are  each
available  for reinvestment  to Unitholders who  are residents of  the state for
which such portfolio is named. The Money Market Fund includes in its  portfolios
only  obligations  maturing  within  one  year  from  the  date  of acquisition,
maintains an average  maturity of  120 days or  less, values  its portfolios  at
amortized  cost and seeks to maintain a net  asset value of $1.00 per share. The
Money Market  Fund  has  the  objective  of  providing,  through  investment  in
professionally   managed  portfolios   of  high   quality  short-term  municipal
obligations, as high a level of current interest income exempt both from Federal
income tax and from the income tax imposed by each portfolio's designated  state
as  is consistent with stability of  principal and the maintenance of liquidity.
The  Money  Market  Fund  may  include  in  each  of  its  portfolios  municipal
obligations  rated Aaa, Aa, MIG-1, MIG-2, VMIG-1,  VMIG-2, Prime 1 or Prime 2 by
Moody's or  AAA, AA,  SP-1,  SP-2, A-1  or A-2  by  Standard &  Poor's;  unrated
municipal  obligations  that, in  the opinion  of  the investment  adviser, have
credit characteristics equivalent to obligations  rated as above; and  temporary
investments that may be subject to Federal and state income tax.
 
                                      A-27
<PAGE>
THE MULTISTATE TRUST
 
    The Multistate Trust consists of the Nuveen Arizona Tax-Free Value Fund, the
Nuveen Florida Tax-Free Value Fund, the Nuveen Maryland Tax-Free Value Fund, the
Nuveen  Michigan Tax-Free Value Fund, the Nuveen New Jersey Tax-Free Value Fund,
the Nuveen Pennsylvania  Tax-Free Value Fund  and the Nuveen  Virginia Tax  Free
Value  Fund, which  are each available  for reinvestment to  Unitholders who are
residents of the state for which  such portfolio is named. The Multistate  Trust
has  the objective of providing, through  investment in a professionally managed
portfolio of municipal bonds, as high a level of current interest income  exempt
from  both regular Federal  income tax and the  applicable state personal income
tax as is  consistent with  preservation of  capital. The  Multistate Trust  may
include  in each  of its  portfolios tax-exempt  bonds rated  "Baa" or  "BBB" or
better, unrated bonds  which, in  the opinion  of the  investment advisor,  have
credit  characteristics  equivalent to  bonds rated  "baa"  or "BBB"  or better,
limited to  no more  than 20%  of  the Multistate  Trust's assets,  and  certain
temporary investments that may be subject to Federal and state income tax.
 
    Each  person who purchases Units of a  Trust may become a participant in the
Accumulation Plan and elect  to have his  or her distributions  on Units of  the
Trust  invested directly in shares of one of the Accumulation Funds. Reinvesting
Unitholders  may  select  any  interest  distribution  plan.  Thereafter,   each
distribution  of  interest  income  or  principal  on  the  participant's  Units
(principal only in  the case of  a Unitholder  who has chosen  to reinvest  only
principal  distributions) will, on the applicable distribution date, or the next
day on which the New  York Stock Exchange is  normally open ("business day")  if
the  distribution  date is  not  a business  day,  automatically be  received by
Shareholder Services, Inc., transfer agent  for each of the Accumulation  Funds,
on  behalf of such participant  and applied on that  date to purchase shares (or
fractions thereof)  of  the Accumulation  Fund  chosen  at net  asset  value  as
computed  as of 4:00 p.m. eastern time on each such date. All distributions will
be reinvested  in the  Accumulation Fund  chosen  and no  part thereof  will  be
retained  in a separate  account. These purchases  will be made  without a sales
charge.
 
    Shareholder Services, Inc. will mail to each participant in the Accumulation
Plan a quarterly  statement containing  a record of  all transactions  involving
purchases of Accumulation Fund shares (or fractions thereof) with Trust interest
distributions or as a result of reinvestment of Accumulation Fund dividends. Any
distribution  of principal used to purchase  shares of an Accumulation Fund will
be separately  confirmed by  Shareholder Services,  Inc. Unitholders  will  also
receive   distribution  statements  from  the   Trustee  detailing  the  amounts
transferred to their Accumulation Fund accounts.
 
    Participants may at any time, by so notifying the Trustee in writing,  elect
to  change  the  Accumulation  Fund into  which  their  distributions  are being
reinvested, to change from principal  only reinvestment to reinvestment of  both
principal and interest or vice versa, or to terminate their participation in the
Accumulation  Plan altogether and receive future distributions on their Units in
cash. There will be no  charge or other penalty for  such change of election  or
termination.
 
    The  character of  Trust distributions for  income tax  purposes will remain
unchanged even if they are reinvested in an Accumulation Fund.
 
15.  HOW DETAILED ARE REPORTS TO UNITHOLDERS?
 
The Trustee  shall  furnish Unitholders  of  a  Trust in  connection  with  each
distribution,  a statement of the amount of  interest and, if any, the amount of
other receipts (received  since the preceding  distribution) being  distributed,
expressed  in each case  as a dollar  amount representing the  pro rata share of
each Unit of a Trust outstanding and a year to date summary of all distributions
paid  on  said   Units.  Within   a  reasonable   period  of   time  after   the
 
                                      A-28
<PAGE>
end  of each calendar year, the Trustee shall  furnish to each person who at any
time during the calendar year was a registered Unitholder of a Trust a statement
with respect to  such Trust (i)  as to the  Interest Account: interest  received
(including  amounts  representing  interest  received  upon  any  disposition of
Bonds), and, except  for any  State Trust, the  percentage of  such interest  by
states  in which the issuers  of the Bonds are  located, deductions for fees and
expenses of such Trust, redemption of Units and the balance remaining after such
distributions and deductions,  expressed in  each case  both as  a total  dollar
amount  and as  a dollar  amount representing  the pro  rata share  of each Unit
outstanding on the  last business  day of  such calendar  year; (ii)  as to  the
Principal  Account: the dates of  disposition of any Bonds  and the net proceeds
received therefrom (excluding  any portion representing  accrued interest),  the
amount  paid for purchase of Replacement  Bonds, the amount paid upon redemption
of Units, deductions for  payment of applicable taxes  and fees and expenses  of
the  Trustee, and the balance remaining  after such distributions and deductions
expressed both as a total dollar amount and as a dollar amount representing  the
pro  rata  share of  each  Unit outstanding  on the  last  business day  of such
calendar year;  (iii)  a  list  of  the Bonds  held  and  the  number  of  Units
outstanding  on the last business day of such calendar year; (iv) the Unit Value
based upon the last computation thereof made during such calendar year; and  (v)
amounts actually distributed during such calendar year from the Interest Account
and  from  the Principal  Account, separately  stated,  expressed both  as total
dollar amounts and  as dollar amounts  representing the pro  rata share of  each
Unit outstanding.
 
    Each  annual statement will reflect pertinent  information in respect of all
plans of distribution so that Unitholders may be informed regarding the  results
of other plans of distribution.
 
16.  UNIT VALUE AND EVALUATION
 
The  value of each  Trust is determined by  the Sponsor on the  basis of (1) the
cash on hand in the Trust or moneys  in the process of being collected, (2)  the
value  of the Bonds in  the Trust based on  the BID prices of  the Bonds and (3)
interest  accrued  thereon   not  subject  to   collection,  LESS  (1)   amounts
representing  taxes or governmental charges payable out of the Trust and (2) the
accrued expenses of the Trust. The result of such computation is divided by  the
number  of Units of such  Trust outstanding as of  the date thereof to determine
the per Unit value ("Unit Value") of  such Trust. The Sponsor may determine  the
value  of the Bonds in each Trust (1) on  the basis of current BID prices of the
Bonds obtained from dealers or brokers who customarily deal in bonds  comparable
to  those held by the Trust, (2) if bid  prices are not available for any of the
Bonds, on the basis of bid prices for comparable bonds, (3) by causing the value
of the Bonds to be determined by  others engaged in the practice of  evaluating,
quoting  or appraising comparable bonds or (4)  by any combination of the above.
Although the Unit Value of each Trust is  based on the BID prices of the  Bonds,
the Units are sold initially to the public at the Public Offering Price based on
the OFFERING prices of the Bonds.
 
    Because  the insurance obtained  by the Sponsor  or by the  issuers of Bonds
with respect to  the Bonds in  the Insured  Trusts and with  respect to  insured
Bonds  in Traditional Trusts is effective so long as such Bonds are outstanding,
such insurance will be  taken into account in  determining the bid and  offering
prices  of such  Bonds and therefore  some value attributable  to such insurance
will be included in the value of Units of Trusts that include such Bonds.
 
17.  HOW UNITS OF THE TRUSTS ARE DISTRIBUTED TO THE PUBLIC
 
John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated is the Sponsor and sole Underwriter of the Units.
It is  the  intention  of  the  Sponsor  to  qualify  Units  of  National,  Long
Intermediate,  Intermediate, Short Intermediate  and Short Term  Trusts for sale
under the laws of substantially all of the states,
 
                                      A-29
<PAGE>
and Units of State  Trusts only in the  state for which the  Trust is named  and
selected other states.
 
    Promptly following the deposit of Bonds in exchange for Units of the Trusts,
it  is the practice of the Sponsor to place all of the Units as collateral for a
letter or letters of credit from one or more commercial banks under an agreement
to release such Units from time to  time as needed for distribution. Under  such
an  arrangement  the Sponsor  pays  such banks  compensation  based on  the then
current interest  rate. This  is  a normal  warehousing arrangement  during  the
period of distribution of the Units to public investors.
 
    The  Sponsor plans to allow a discount  to brokers and dealers in connection
with  the  primary  distribution   of  Units  and   also  in  secondary   market
transactions. The primary market discounts are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         DISCOUNT PER UNIT
                                --------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                             <C>         <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
                                 NATIONAL    LONG INTER-                  SHORT INTER-
                                AND STATE      MEDIATE     INTERMEDIATE      MEDIATE     SHORT TERM
NUMBER OF UNITS*                  TRUSTS       TRUSTS         TRUSTS         TRUSTS        TRUSTS
- ------------------------------  ----------  -------------  -------------  -------------  -----------
Less than 500.................    $3.20         $2.90          $2.70          $2.00         $1.50
500 but less than 1,000.......     3.20         2.90           2.70           2.00          1.50
1,000 but less than 2,500.....     3.20         2.70           2.50           1.80          1.30
2,500 but less than 5,000.....     3.20         2.45           2.25           1.55          1.05
5,000 but less than 10,000....     2.50         2.45           2.25           1.55          1.05
10,000 but less than 25,000...     2.00         2.00           2.00           1.30           .80
25,000 but less than 50,000...     1.75         1.75           1.75           1.30           .60
50,000 or more................     1.75         1.50           1.50           1.00           .60
</TABLE>
 
*Breakpoint  sales charges and related dealer concessions are computed both on a
 dollar basis and  on the  basis of  the number  of Units  purchased, using  the
 equivalent  of 500 Units to  $50,000, 2,500 Units to  $250,000 etc. and will be
 applied on that basis which is more favorable to the purchaser.
 
    The Sponsor currently intends  to maintain a secondary  market for Units  of
each  Trust. See  Section 7.  The amount of  the dealer  concession on secondary
market purchases of Trust Units through the Sponsor will be computed based  upon
the  value  of the  Bonds in  the  Trust portfolio,  including the  sales charge
computed as described in Section 6, and adjusted to reflect the cash position of
the Trust principal  account, and will  vary with  the size of  the purchase  as
shown in the following table:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               AMOUNT OF PURCHASE*
                            -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                         <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>
                                        $50,000   $100,000   $250,000   $500,000   $1,000,000  $2,500,000
                              UNDER       TO         TO         TO         TO          TO          TO      $5,000,000
YEARS TO MATURITY            $50,000    $99,999   $249,999   $499,999   $999,999   $2,499,999  $4,999,999   OR MORE
- --------------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Less than 1...............      0          0          0          0          0          0           0           0
1 but less than 2.........    1.00%      .90%       .85%       .80%       .70%        .55%       .467%       .389%
2 but less than 3.........    1.30%      1.20%      1.10%      1.00%      .90%        .73%       .634%       .538%
3 but less than 4.........    1.60%      1.45%      1.35%      1.25%      1.10%       .90%       .781%       .662%
4 but less than 5.........    2.00%      1.85%      1.75%      1.55%      1.40%      1.25%       1.082%      .914%
5 but less than 7.........    2.30%      2.15%      1.95%      1.80%      1.65%      1.50%       1.320%      1.140%
7 but less than 10........    2.60%      2.45%      2.25%      2.10%      1.95%      1.70%       1.496%      1.292%
10 but less than 13.......    3.00%      2.80%      2.60%      2.45%      2.30%      2.00%       1.747%      1.494%
13 but less than 16.......    3.25%      3.15%      3.00%      2.75%      2.50%      2.15%       1.878%      1.606%
16 or more................    3.50%      3.50%      3.40%      3.35%      3.00%      2.50%       2.185%      1.873%
</TABLE>
 
 *Breakpoint sales charges and related dealer concessions are computed both on a
  dollar  basis and  on the basis  of the  number of Units  purchased, using the
  equivalent of 500 Units to $50,000, 2,500 Units to $250,000, etc., and will be
  applied on that basis which is more favorable to the purchaser.
 
    The Sponsor reserves the  right to change  the foregoing dealer  concessions
from time to time.
 
    Registered  investment advisers, certified financial planners and registered
broker-dealers who  in  each case  either  charge periodic  fees  for  financial
planning, investment advisory
 
                                      A-30
<PAGE>
or  asset management services,  or provide such services  in connection with the
establishment of  an investment  account for  which a  comprehensive "wrap  fee"
charge  is imposed, and  bank trust departments investing  funds over which they
exercise exclusive discretionary  investment authority  and that are  held in  a
fiduciary,  agency, custodial or  similar capacity, are  not entitled to receive
any dealer concession  for primary  or secondary  market purchases  in which  an
investor  purchases  any  number  of  Units at  the  Public  Offering  Price for
non-breakpoint purchases minus  the concession the  sponsor typically allows  to
brokers and dealers for non-breakpoint purchases (see Section 6).
 
    Certain  commercial banks are making Units  of the Trusts available to their
customers on  an agency  basis. A  portion of  the sales  charge paid  by  these
customers  is retained by or  remitted to the banks in  the amounts shown in the
above table.  The Glass-Steagall  Act prohibits  banks from  underwriting  Trust
Units;  the Act  does, however, permit  certain agency  transactions and banking
regulators have not indicated that these particular agency transactions are  not
permitted  under the Act. In Texas and  in certain other states, any bank making
Units available must be registered as a broker-dealer under state law.
 
    To facilitate the handling of transactions, sales of Units shall be  limited
to  transactions involving a minimum of either  $5,000 or 50 Units, whichever is
less. The Sponsor reserves the right to  reject, in whole or in part, any  order
for the purchase of Units.
 
18.  OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER OF UNITS
 
The  ownership of  Units is  evidenced by book  entry positions  recorded on the
books and records of the Trustee  unless the Unitholder expressly requests  that
the  purchased Units be evidenced in Certificate form. The Trustee is authorized
to treat as the owner of Units that person who at the time is registered as such
on the books of the Trustee. Any  Unitholder who holds a Certificate may  change
to  book entry ownership by submitting to the Trustee the Certificate along with
a written request that the Units represented by such Certificate be held in book
entry form. Likewise, a Unitholder who holds Units in book entry form may obtain
a Certificate for such  Units by written  request to the  Trustee. Units may  be
held in denominations of one Unit or any multiple or fraction thereof. Fractions
of  Units are computed to three decimal  places. Any Certificates issued will be
numbered serially for identification, and  are issued in fully registered  form,
transferable  only  on the  books of  the Trustee.  Book entry  Unitholders will
receive a Book Entry Position Confirmation reflecting their ownership.
 
    Certificates for  Units will  bear  an appropriate  notation on  their  face
indicating  which plan of distribution has been selected. When a change is made,
the  existing  Certificates  must  be   surrendered  to  the  Trustee  and   new
Certificates  issued to  reflect the  currently effective  plan of distribution.
There will be no charge for this service. Holders of book entry Units can change
their plan of  distribution by making  a written request  to the Trustee,  which
will issue a new Book Entry Position Confirmation to reflect such change.
 
    Units  are transferable by making  a written request to  the Trustee and, in
the case of Units  evidenced by Certificate(s),  by presenting and  surrendering
such  Certificate(s) to the Trustee,  at its corporate trust  office in New York
City, properly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of
transfer. The Certificate(s) should be sent registered or certified mail for the
protection of the Unitholder.  Each Unitholder must  sign such written  request,
and  such Certificate(s) or transfer instrument,  exactly as his name appears on
(a) the face of the Certificate(s) representing the Units to be transferred,  or
(b)  the  Book  Entry  Position  Confirmation(s) relating  to  the  Units  to be
transferred. Such signature(s) must be  guaranteed by a guarantor acceptable  to
the  Trustee. In certain instances the  Trustee may require additional documents
such  as,  but  not  limited  to,  trust  instruments,  certificates  of  death,
appointments   as  executor  or  administrator   or  certificates  of  corporate
 
                                      A-31
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authority. Mutilated Certificates must  be surrendered to  the Trustee in  order
for a replacement Certificate to be issued.
 
    Although  at the date hereof  no charge is made  and none is contemplated, a
Unitholder may be  required to  pay $2.00 to  the Trustee  for each  Certificate
reissued or transfer of Units requested and to pay any governmental charge which
may be imposed in connection therewith.
 
REPLACEMENT OF LOST, STOLEN OR DESTROYED CERTIFICATES.
 
    To  obtain a new  Certificate replacing one  that has been  lost, stolen, or
destroyed,  the   Unitholder   must   furnish  the   Trustee   with   sufficient
indemnification and pay such expenses as the Trustee may incur.
 
    The  indemnification protects the  Trustee, Sponsor, and  Trust from risk if
the original Certificate is presented for transfer or redemption by a person who
purchased it  in good  faith,  for value  and without  notice  of any  fraud  or
irregularity.
 
    This  indemnification  must  be in  the  form  of an  Open  Penalty  Bond of
Indemnification. The premium for  such an indemnity bond  may vary from time  to
time,  but currently amounts to 1% of  the market value of the Units represented
by the  Certificate. In  the case  however, of  a Trust  as to  which notice  of
termination  has been given, the premium currently amounts to 0.5% of the market
value of the Units represented by such Certificate.
 
19.  HOW UNITS MAY BE REDEEMED WITHOUT CHARGE
 
Unitholders may redeem all or a portion  of their Units by (1) making a  written
request  for such redemption (book entry Unitholders may use the redemption form
on the reverse side of their Book Entry Position Confirmation) to the Trustee at
its corporate trust office in New York City (redemptions of 1,000 Units or  more
will  require a signature  guarantee), (2) in  the case of  Units evidenced by a
Certificate, by also tendering such Certificate to the Trustee, duly endorsed or
accompanied by  proper instruments  of transfer  with signatures  guaranteed  as
explained  in  Section  18 above,  and  (3) payment  of  applicable governmental
charges, if any.  Certificates should be  sent only by  registered or  certified
mail  to minimize  the possibility of  their being  lost or stolen.  In order to
effect a  redemption of  Units evidenced  by a  Certificate, a  Unitholder  must
tender the Certificate to the Trustee or provide satisfactory indemnity required
in  connection with lost, stolen or  destroyed Certificates (See Section 18). No
redemption fee will be charged. A Unitholder may authorize the Trustee to  honor
telephone  instructions for  the redemption  of Units  held in  book entry form.
Units represented by Certificates may not be redeemed by telephone. The proceeds
of Units redeemed by telephone will be sent by check either to the Unitholder at
the address specified on his account or to a financial institution specified  by
the Unitholder for credit to the account of the Unitholder. A Unitholder wishing
to   use  this  method  of  redemption  must  complete  a  Telephone  Redemption
Authorization Form and  furnish the  Form to the  Trustee. Telephone  Redemption
Authorization   Forms   can   be  obtained   from   a   Unitholder's  registered
representative or by calling  the Trustee. Once the  completed Form is on  file,
the  Trustee  will honor  telephone redemption  requests by  any person.  If the
telephone redemption request is  received prior to 4:00  p.m. eastern time,  the
Unitholder  will be  entitled to receive  for each Unit  tendered the Redemption
Price as determined above.  A telephone redemption  request received after  4:00
p.m. eastern time will be treated as having been received the following business
day. The redemption proceeds will be mailed within seven calendar days following
the  telephone redemption  request. Telephone  redemptions are  limited to 1,000
Units or less. Only  Units held in  the name of individuals  may be redeemed  by
telephone;  accounts registered in  broker name, or  accounts of corporations or
fiduciaries  (including  among  others,   trustees,  guardians,  executors   and
administrators) may not use the telephone redemption privilege.
 
                                      A-32
<PAGE>
   
    On  the seventh calendar day following the date of tender, or if the seventh
calendar day is not a business day, on the first business day prior thereto, the
Unitholder will be entitled to receive in cash for each Unit tendered an  amount
equal to the Unit Value of such Trust determined by the Trustee, as of 4:00 p.m.
eastern  time on the date of tender  as defined hereafter, plus accrued interest
to, but  not  including,  the  fifth  business day  after  the  date  of  tender
("Redemption Price"). Unitholders who tender Units on June 7, 1995 or thereafter
shall  receive cash, as  calculated above, for  each Unit tendered  on the third
business day following  the date of  tender, plus accrued  interest to, but  not
including,  the third business date after the date of tender. The price received
upon redemption may  be more  or less  than the  amount paid  by the  Unitholder
depending  on the value of the Bonds on the date of tender. Such value will vary
with market and credit  conditions, including changes  in interest rate  levels.
Unitholders  should  check with  the Trustee  or their  broker to  determine the
Redemption Price before tendering Units.
    
 
    While the Trustee has the power to determine Redemption Price when Units are
tendered, the authority has  by practice been delegated  by the Trustee to  John
Nuveen  & Co.  Incorporated, which  determines the  Redemption Price  on a daily
basis.
 
    The "date of  tender" is  deemed to  be the date  on which  the request  for
redemption  of Units is received  in proper form by  the Trustee, except that as
regards a redemption request received after 4:00 p.m. eastern time or on any day
on which the New  York Stock Exchange (the  "Exchange") is normally closed,  the
date  of tender  is the  next day on  which such  Exchange is  normally open for
trading and such request will  be deemed to have been  made on such day and  the
redemption will be effected at the Redemption Price computed on that day.
 
    Accrued  interest paid  on redemption shall  be withdrawn  from the Interest
Account of the  appropriate Trust or,  if the balance  therein is  insufficient,
from  the Principal Account of such Trust.  All other amounts paid on redemption
shall be withdrawn from the Principal Account. The Trustee is empowered to  sell
underlying  Bonds of a  Trust in order  to make funds  available for redemption.
(See Section 21.) Units so redeemed shall be cancelled.
 
    To the extent that Bonds  are sold from a Trust,  the size and diversity  of
such  Trust will  be reduced. Such  sales may be  required at a  time when Bonds
would not  otherwise  be  sold and  might  result  in lower  prices  than  might
otherwise be realized.
 
    The  Redemption Price is  determined on the  basis of the  BID prices of the
Bonds in each Trust, while  the initial Public Offering  Price of Units will  be
determined  on the  basis of the  OFFERING prices of  the Bonds as  of 4:00 p.m.
eastern time on any day on which  the Exchange is normally open for trading  and
such determination is made. As of any given time, the difference between the bid
and  offering  prices of  such Bonds  may be  expected  to average  1% to  2% of
principal amount in the case of  Bonds in National, Long Intermediate and  State
Trusts,  3/4%  to  1  1/2% in  the  case  of Bonds  in  Intermediate,  and Short
Intermediate Trusts and 1/2% to 3/4% in the case of Bonds in Short Term  Trusts.
In  the case of actively traded Bonds, the difference may be as little as 1/4 to
1/2 of 1%, and in  the case of inactively  traded Bonds such difference  usually
will  not exceed 3%. The difference between the aggregate offering prices of the
Bonds in each Trust  and the aggregate  bid prices thereof  on the business  day
prior  to  the Date  of Deposit  is shown  in the  discussion of  specific trust
matters.
 
    The right  of redemption  may be  suspended and  payment postponed  for  any
period  during  which the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  determines that
trading in the municipal bond market is restricted or an emergency exists, as  a
result  of  which  disposal  or  evaluation  of  the  Bonds  is  not  reasonably
practicable, or for such other periods as the Securities and Exchange Commission
may by order permit.
 
    Under regulations issued by the  Internal Revenue Service, the Trustee  will
be  required to withhold 31% of the principal amount of a Unit redemption if the
Trustee has not been
 
                                      A-33
<PAGE>
furnished the redeeming  Unitholder's tax  identification number  in the  manner
required  by  such regulations.  Any amount  so withheld  is transmitted  to the
Internal Revenue Service and may be recovered by the Unitholder only when filing
his or  her tax  return.  Under normal  circumstances  the Trustee  obtains  the
Unitholder's  tax identification number from the  selling broker at the time the
Certificate or Book  Entry Return  Confirmation is  issued, and  this number  is
printed on the Certificate or Book Entry Return Confirmation and on distribution
statements.  If  a Unitholder's  tax identification  number  does not  appear as
described above,  or if  it  is incorrect,  the  Unitholder should  contact  the
Trustee  before redeeming Units to determine what action, if any, is required to
avoid this "back-up withholding."
 
20.  HOW UNITS MAY BE PURCHASED BY THE SPONSOR
 
The Trustee will notify the  Sponsor of any tender  of Units for redemption.  If
the  Sponsor's bid in  the secondary market  at that time  equals or exceeds the
Redemption Price it may purchase such Units by notifying the Trustee before  the
close  of business on the  second succeeding business day  and by making payment
therefor to  the  Unitholder not  later  than the  day  on which  payment  would
otherwise have been made by the Trustee. (See Section 19.) The Sponsor's current
practice  is to bid at the Redemption  Price in the secondary market. Units held
by the Sponsor may be tendered to the Trustee for redemption as any other Units.
 
    The Public Offering  Price upon  resale of any  Units thus  acquired by  the
Sponsor  will be  calculated in accordance  with the procedure  described in the
then currently effective prospectus relating to such Units. Any profit resulting
from the resale of  such Units will  belong to the  Sponsor which likewise  will
bear  any loss resulting from a lower  Public Offering Price or Redemption Price
subsequent to its acquisition of such Units.
 
21.  HOW BONDS MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE TRUSTS
 
Bonds will be removed from a Trust as they mature or are redeemed by the issuers
thereof. See  the "Schedules  of Investments"  and "General  Trust  Information"
under Section 3 for a discussion of call provisions of portfolio Bonds.
 
    The  Indenture also empowers  the Trustee to  sell Bonds for  the purpose of
redeeming Units tendered by any Unitholder, and for the payment of expenses  for
which  income may not be available. Under the Indenture the Sponsor is obligated
to provide the Trustee with a current list of Bonds in each Trust to be sold  in
such  circumstances. In deciding which Bonds  should be sold the Sponsor intends
to consider, among  other things, such  factors as: (1)  market conditions;  (2)
market  prices  of  the  Bonds;  (3)  the  effect  on  income  distributions  to
Unitholders of the sale of various Bonds; (4) the effect on principal amount  of
underlying  Bonds  per Unit  of the  sale  of various  Bonds; (5)  the financial
condition of the issuers; and (6) the effect of the sale of various Bonds on the
investment character of the Trust. Such sales, if required, could result in  the
sale  of Bonds by the Trustee at prices less than original cost to the Trust. To
the extent Bonds are sold, the size and diversity of such Trust will be reduced.
 
    In addition, the  Sponsor is empowered  to direct the  Trustee to  liquidate
Bonds upon the happening of certain other events, such as default in the payment
of principal and/or interest, an action of the issuer that will adversely affect
its  ability to continue payment of the  principal of and interest on its Bonds,
or an  adverse  change  in  market, revenue  or  credit  factors  affecting  the
investment  character of the Bonds. If a default in the payment of the principal
of and/or interest  on any  of the  Bonds occurs, and  if the  Sponsor fails  to
instruct  the Trustee whether to  sell or continue to  hold such Bonds within 30
days after  notification by  the Trustee  to the  Sponsor of  such default,  the
Indenture  provides that  the Trustee shall  liquidate said  Bonds forthwith and
shall not be liable for any loss so incurred.
 
                                      A-34
<PAGE>
    In connection with its  determination as to the  sale or liquidation of  any
Bonds,  the Sponsor  will consider the  Bond's then current  rating, but because
such ratings are the opinions of the rating agencies as to the quality of  Bonds
they  undertake to rate and not absolute  standards of quality, the Sponsor will
exercise its independent judgment as to Bond creditworthiness.
 
    The Sponsor may also direct the Trustee to liquidate Bonds in a Trust if the
Bonds in  the  Trust  are  the  subject  of  an  advanced  refunding,  generally
considered  to be when refunding  bonds are issued and  the proceeds thereof are
deposited in irrevocable trust to retire the refunded Bonds on their  redemption
date.
 
    Except as stated in Section 4 regarding the limited right of substitution of
Replacement Bonds for Failed Bonds, and except for refunding securities that may
be  exchanged for Bonds under certain conditions specified in the Indenture, the
Indenture does  not permit  either the  Sponsor  or the  Trustee to  acquire  or
deposit  bonds either in addition  to, or in substitution  for, any of the Bonds
initially deposited in a Trust.
 
22.  INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRUSTEE
 
The Trustee is United States Trust Company of New York, with its principal place
of business at 114 West 47th Street, New York, New York 10036 and its  corporate
trust  office at  770 Broadway,  New York, New  York 10003.  United States Trust
Company of New York, established in  1853, has, since its organization,  engaged
primarily  in the  management of trust  and agency accounts  for individuals and
corporations. The Trustee is a member of the New York Clearing House Association
and is subject to supervision and examination by the Superintendent of Banks  of
the  State of New York, the Federal  Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve  System. In connection with the storage  and
handling  of certain  Bonds deposited  in the  Trusts, the  Trustee may  use the
services  of  The  Depository  Trust  Company.  These  services  would   include
safekeeping  of the Bonds and  coupon-clipping, computer book-entry transfer and
institutional delivery  services.  The Depository  Trust  Company is  a  limited
purpose  trust company organized under the Banking Law of the State of New York,
a member of the  Federal Reserve System and  a clearing agency registered  under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
 
LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITIES OF SPONSOR AND TRUSTEE
 
    The  Sponsor and the Trustee shall be  under no liability to Unitholders for
taking any action or for  refraining from any action  in good faith pursuant  to
the Indenture, or for errors in judgment, but shall be liable only for their own
negligence,  lack of good faith or willful  misconduct. The Trustee shall not be
liable for depreciation or loss incurred by reason of the sale by the Trustee of
any of the Bonds. In the  event of the failure of  the Sponsor to act under  the
Indenture, the Trustee may act thereunder and shall not be liable for any action
taken by it in good faith under the Indenture.
 
    The  Trustee shall not be liable for any taxes or other governmental charges
imposed upon or in respect of the Bonds or upon the interest thereon or upon  it
as  Trustee under  the Indenture or  upon or in  respect of any  Trust which the
Trustee may be required  to pay under  any present or future  law of the  United
States  of  America or  of any  other taxing  authority having  jurisdiction. In
addition,  the  Indenture  contains  other  customary  provisions  limiting  the
liability of the Trustee.
 
SUCCESSOR TRUSTEES AND SPONSORS
 
    The  Trustee or any successor trustee  may resign by executing an instrument
of resignation in writing and filing same with the Sponsor and mailing a copy of
a notice of resignation to all  Unitholders then of record. Upon receiving  such
notice, the Sponsor is required to
 
                                      A-35
<PAGE>
promptly appoint a successor trustee. If the Trustee becomes incapable of acting
or  is adjudged a bankrupt  or insolvent, or a  receiver or other public officer
shall take charge of its property or affairs, the Sponsor may remove the Trustee
and appoint a successor by written  instrument. The resignation or removal of  a
trustee  and the appointment of a  successor trustee shall become effective only
when the  successor  trustee accepts  its  appointment as  such.  Any  successor
trustee  shall be a  corporation authorized to  exercise corporate trust powers,
having capital, surplus and undivided profits  of not less than $5,000,000.  Any
corporation  into  which  a  trustee may  be  merged  or with  which  it  may be
consolidated, or any corporation resulting  from any merger or consolidation  to
which a trustee shall be a party, shall be the successor trustee.
 
    If  upon resignation of  a trustee no  successor has been  appointed and has
accepted the appointment within 30 days after notification, the retiring trustee
may apply  to  a  court of  competent  jurisdiction  for the  appointment  of  a
successor.
 
    If the Sponsor fails to undertake any of its duties under the Indenture, and
no  express  provision is  made for  action by  the Trustee  in such  event, the
Trustee may, in addition to its other  powers under the Indenture (1) appoint  a
successor sponsor or (2) terminate the Indenture and liquidate the Trusts.
 
23.  INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPONSOR
 
John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated, the Sponsor and Underwriter, was founded in 1898
and  is  the oldest  and  largest investment  banking  firm specializing  in the
underwriting and distribution of tax-exempt securities and maintains the largest
research department in the investment  banking community devoted exclusively  to
the  analysis of municipal securities. In  1961 the Sponsor began sponsoring the
Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust and, since this  time, it has issued more than  $30
billion  in tax-exempt unit trusts, including over $8 billion in insured trusts.
The Sponsor is  also principal underwriter  of the Nuveen  Municipal Bond  Fund,
Inc.,  the Nuveen Tax-Exempt Money Market  Fund, Inc., Nuveen Tax-Free Reserves,
Inc., Nuveen California Tax-Free  Fund, Inc., Nuveen  Tax-Free Bond Fund,  Inc.,
Nuveen  Insured Tax-Free Bond Fund, Inc.  and Nuveen Tax-Free Money Market Fund,
Inc., all  registered open-end  management investment  companies, and  acted  as
co-managing  underwriter of Nuveen Municipal Value Fund, Inc., Nuveen California
Municipal Value Fund, Inc., Nuveen New  York Municipal Value Fund, Inc.,  Nuveen
Municipal  Income  Fund, Inc.,  Nuveen California  Municipal Income  Fund, Inc.,
Nuveen New York  Municipal Income  Fund, Inc., Nuveen  Premium Income  Municipal
Fund,  Inc.,  Nuveen Performance  Plus Municipal  Fund, Inc.,  Nuveen California
Performance  Plus  Municipal  Fund,  Inc.,  Nuveen  New  York  Performance  Plus
Municipal  Fund, Inc., Nuveen  Municipal Advantage Fund,  Inc., Nuveen Municipal
Market Opportunity Fund,  Inc., Nuveen California  Municipal Market  Opportunity
Fund,  Inc., Nuveen  New York  Municipal Market  Opportunity Fund,  Inc., Nuveen
Investment Quality Municipal  Fund, Inc., Nuveen  California Investment  Quality
Municipal  Fund, Inc., Nuveen New York  Investment Quality Municipal Fund, Inc.,
Nuveen Insured Quality Municipal Fund,  Inc., Nuveen Florida Investment  Quality
Municipal  Fund, Nuveen  Pennsylvania Investment Quality  Municipal Fund, Nuveen
New Jersey  Investment  Quality Municipal  Fund,  Inc., and  the  Nuveen  Select
Quality  Municipal Fund, Inc.,  Nuveen California Quality  Municipal Fund, Inc.,
Nuveen New  York Select  Quality  Municipal Fund,  Inc., Nuveen  Quality  Income
Municipal  Fund, Inc., Nuveen  Insured Municipal Opportunity  Fund, Inc., Nuveen
Florida Quality Income Municipal Fund, Nuveen Michigan Quality Income  Municipal
Fund,  Inc., Nuveen New Jersey Quality  Income Municipal Fund, Inc., Nuveen Ohio
Quality  Income  Municipal  Fund,  Inc.,  Nuveen  Pennsylvania  Quality   Income
Municipal  Fund, Nuveen Texas  Quality Income Municipal  Fund, Nuveen California
Quality Income Municipal Fund,  Inc., Nuveen New  York Quality Income  Municipal
Fund,  Inc., Nuveen Premier  Insured Municipal Income  Fund, Inc., Nuveen Select
Tax Free Income  Portfolio, Nuveen Select  Tax Free Income  Portfolio 2,  Nuveen
 
                                      A-36
<PAGE>
Insured  California Select  Tax-Free Income  Portfolio, Nuveen  Insured New York
Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio, Nuveen Premium Income Municipal Fund 2,  Inc.,
Nuveen  Select Tax Free  Income Portfolio 3,  Nuveen Select Maturities Municipal
Fund, Nuveen  Insured California  Premium Income  Municipal Fund,  Inc.,  Nuveen
Arizona  Premium  Income Municipal  Fund,  Inc., Nuveen  Insured  Premium Income
Municipal Fund,  Inc., Nuveen  Insured Florida  Premium Income  Municipal  Fund,
Nuveen  Michigan Premium Income Municipal Fund,  Inc., Nuveen New Jersey Premium
Income Municipal Fund, Inc.,  Nuveen Insured New  York Premium Income  Municipal
Fund, Inc., Nuveen Ohio Premium Income Municipal Fund, Inc., Nuveen Pennsylvania
Premium  Income  Municipal Fund,  Nuveen  Texas Premium  Income  Municipal Fund,
Nuveen Premium Income Municipal Fund 4, Inc., Nuveen Pennsylvania Premium Income
Municipal Fund 2, Nuveen Insured Florida Premium Income Municipal Fund 2, Nuveen
Maryland Premium Income Municipal Fund, Nuveen Virginia Premium Income Municipal
Fund,  Nuveen  Massachusetts  Premium  Income  Municipal  Fund,  Nuveen  Insured
California  Premium  Income  Municipal Fund  2,  Inc., Nuveen  Insured  New York
Premium Income Municipal Fund 2, Nuveen New Jersey Premium Income Municipal Fund
2, Nuveen  Washington Premium  Income Municipal  Fund, Nuveen  Michigan  Premium
Income  Municipal Fund 2,  Nuveen Georgia Premium  Income Municipal Fund, Nuveen
Missouri Premium  Income  Municipal  Fund,  Nuveen  Connecticut  Premium  Income
Municipal  Fund, Nuveen North Carolina Premium Income Municipal Fund, Nuveen New
Jersey Premium Income Municipal Fund 3, Nuveen Florida Premium Income  Municipal
Fund,  Nuveen New York Premium Income  Municipal Fund, Nuveen California Premium
Income Municipal  Fund, Nuveen  Pennsylvania Premium  Income Municipal  Fund  3,
Nuveen  Maryland  Income  Municipal  Fund  2,  Nuveen  Virginia  Premium  Income
Municipal Fund 2, Nuveen  Ohio Premium Income Municipal  Fund 2, Nuveen  Insured
Premium Income Municipal Fund 2, Nuveen California Premium Income Municipal Fund
2,  all registered closed-end management  investment companies. These registered
open-end and closed-end investment companies currently have approximately  $32.8
billion  in  tax-exempt  securities  under  management.  Nationwide,  more  than
1,000,000 individual investors  have purchased  Nuveen's tax  exempt trusts  and
funds.  The  present  corporation  was  organized  in  1967  as  a  wholly-owned
subsidiary of Nuveen Corporation,  successor to the original  John Nuveen &  Co.
founded in 1898 as a sole proprietorship and incorporated in 1953. In 1974, John
Nuveen  &  Co. Incorporated  became a  wholly-owned subsidiary  of The  St. Paul
Companies, Inc., a financial  services management company  located in St.  Paul,
Minnesota.  On May 19, 1992, common shares comprising a minority interest in The
John Nuveen Company ("JNC"),  a newly organized corporation  which holds all  of
the  shares of  Nuveen, were  sold to  the general  public in  an initial public
offering. St. Paul retains a controlling interest in JNC with over 70% of  JNC's
shares.  The  Sponsor is  a  member of  the  National Association  of Securities
Dealers, Inc.  and the  Securities Industry  Association and  has its  principal
offices located in Chicago (333 W. Wacker Drive) and New York (Swiss Bank Tower,
10 East 50th Street). It maintains 14 regional offices.
 
    To help advisers and investors better understand and more efficiently use an
investment  in the Trust  to reach their investment  goals, the Trust's sponsor,
John Nuveen &  Co. Incorporated,  may advertise and  create specific  investment
programs  and  systems.  For  example, such  activities  may  include presenting
information on how to use  an investment in the  Trust, alone or in  combination
with  an investment in other mutual funds or unit investment trusts sponsored by
Nuveen, to accumulate  assets for  future education needs  or periodic  payments
such  as  insurance  premiums.  The  Trust's  sponsor  may  produce  software or
additional sales literature to promote the advantages of using the Trust to meet
these and other specific investor needs.
 
                                      A-37
<PAGE>
24.  OTHER INFORMATION
AMENDMENT OF INDENTURE
 
    The Indenture may  be amended  by the Trustee  and the  Sponsor without  the
consent  of any of  the Unitholders (1) to  cure any ambiguity  or to correct or
supplement any provision thereof which may be defective or inconsistent, or  (2)
to  make such  other provisions as  shall not adversely  affect the Unitholders,
provided, however, that the Indenture may not be amended to increase the  number
of Units in any Trust or to permit the deposit or acquisition of bonds either in
addition  to, or in substitution for any of the Bonds initially deposited in any
Trust except as stated in Section 4 regarding the limited right of  substitution
of  Replacement Bonds and  except for the substitution  of refunding bonds under
certain circumstances. The Trustee shall advise the Unitholders of any amendment
promptly after execution thereof.
 
TERMINATION OF INDENTURE
 
    Each Trust may be liquidated at any  time by written consent of 100% of  the
Unitholders  or by  the Trustee when  the value of  such Trust, as  shown by any
evaluation, is less than 20% of the original principal amount of such Trust  and
will  be  liquidated  by  the Trustee  in  the  event that  Units  not  yet sold
aggregating more  than 60%  of the  Units originally  created are  tendered  for
redemption  by the Sponsor thereby reducing the  net worth of such Trust to less
than 40%  of the  principal amount  of  the Bonds  originally deposited  in  the
portfolio. (See "Essential Information Regarding the Trusts.") The sale of Bonds
from  the Trusts upon termination  may result in realization  of a lesser amount
than might otherwise be realized  if such sale were  not required at such  time.
For  this  reason,  among  others,  the amount  realized  by  a  Unitholder upon
termination  may  be  less  than  the  principal  amount  of  Bonds   originally
represented  by the Units held by  such Unitholder. The Indenture will terminate
upon the redemption, sale or other disposition of the last Bond held thereunder,
but in no event shall it continue beyond the end of the calendar year  preceding
the  fiftieth anniversary of its execution for National and State Trusts, beyond
the end  of  the  calendar  year preceding  the  twentieth  anniversary  of  its
execution  for Long Intermediate,  and Intermediate Trusts or  beyond the end of
the calendar year  preceding the tenth  anniversary of its  execution for  Short
Intermediate and Short Term Trusts.
 
    Written  notice of  any termination  specifying the  time or  times at which
Unitholders may surrender their Certificates, if any, for cancellation shall  be
given  by  the  Trustee to  each  Unitholder  at the  address  appearing  on the
registration books of the Trust maintained  by the Trustee. Within a  reasonable
time thereafter the Trustee shall liquidate any Bonds in the Trust then held and
shall  deduct  from the  assets  of the  Trust  any accrued  costs,  expenses or
indemnities provided  by  the  Indenture  which are  allocable  to  such  Trust,
including estimated compensation of the Trustee and costs of liquidation and any
amounts  required as a reserve to provide for payment of any applicable taxes or
other governmental charges. The Trustee shall then distribute to Unitholders  of
such  Trust their pro  rata share of  the balance of  the Interest and Principal
Accounts. With  such distribution  the Unitholders  shall be  furnished a  final
distribution   statement,  in  substantially   the  same  form   as  the  annual
distribution statement, of the amount distributable. At such time as the Trustee
in its sole discretion shall determine that  any amounts held in reserve are  no
longer  necessary, it shall make distribution thereof to Unitholders in the same
manner.
 
LEGAL OPINION
 
    The legality of the Units offered hereby has been passed upon by Chapman and
Cutler, 111 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603. Special counsel for the
Trusts for respective state tax matters are named in "Tax Status" for each Trust
under Section 3. Carter, Ledyard  & Milburn, 2 Wall  Street, New York, New  York
10005, has acted as counsel for the
 
                                      A-38
<PAGE>
Trustee with respect to the Series, and, in the absence of a New York Trust from
the Series, as special New York tax counsel for the Series.
 
AUDITORS
 
    The  Statements of Condition and Schedules of Investments at Date of Deposit
included  in  this  Prospectus  have  been  audited  by  Arthur  Andersen   LLP,
independent public accountants, as indicated in their report in this Prospectus,
and  are included herein in reliance upon  the authority of said firm as experts
in giving said report.
 
                            DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS*
 
    STANDARD & POOR'S CORPORATION.  A  description of the applicable Standard  &
Poor's Corporation rating symbols and their meanings follows:
 
    A  Standard & Poor's rating is  a current assessment of the creditworthiness
of an obligor with  respect to a specific  debt obligation. This assessment  may
take into consideration obligors such as guarantors, insurers or lessees.
 
    The  rating is not  a recommendation to  purchase, sell or  hold a security,
inasmuch as  it  does not  comment  as to  market  price or  suitability  for  a
particular investor.
 
    The  ratings are  based on  current information  furnished by  the issuer or
obtained by Standard & Poor's from other sources it considers reliable. Standard
& Poor's does not  perform an audit  in connection with any  rating and may,  on
occasion,  rely on unaudited financial information.  The ratings may be changed,
suspended or withdrawn  as a result  of changes in,  or unavailability of,  such
information, or for other circumstances.
 
    The ratings are based, in varying degrees, on the following considerations:
 
     I.  Likelihood  of default--capacity and  willingness of the  obligor as to
         the timely payment of interest and repayment of principal in accordance
         with the terms of the obligation;
 
     II.  Nature of and provisions of the obligation;
 
    III.  Protection afforded by,  and relative position  of, the obligation  in
          the  event of  bankruptcy, reorganization or  other arrangements under
          the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors' rights.
 
    AAA--This is the  highest rating  assigned by Standard  & Poor's  to a  debt
obligation. Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.
 
    AA--Bonds  rated AA have  a very strong  capacity to pay  interest and repay
principal, and differ from the highest rated issues only in small degree.
 
    A--Bonds rated A have a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal,
although they are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in
circumstances and economic conditions than bonds in higher rated categories.
 
    BBB--Bonds rated BBB  are regarded  as having  an adequate  capacity to  pay
interest  and repay principal. Whereas they normally exhibit adequate protection
parameters, adverse  economic  conditions  or changing  circumstances  are  more
likely  to lead to a  weakened capacity to pay  interest and repay principal for
bonds in this category than for bonds in the higher rated categories.
 
- ----------
*As published by the rating companies.
 
                                      A-39
<PAGE>
    PLUS (+) OR MINUS (-): The ratings from "AA" to "BB" may be modified by  the
addition  of a  plus or minus  sign to  show relative standing  within the major
rating categories.
 
    PROVISIONAL  RATINGS:  The   letter  "p"  indicates   that  the  rating   is
provisional.  A  provisional rating  assumes  the successful  completion  of the
project being financed by  the issuance of the  bonds being rated and  indicates
that  payment of debt service requirements is largely or entirely dependent upon
the successful and timely completion of the project. This rating, however, while
addressing credit  quality subsequent  to completion  of the  project, makes  no
comment  on the  likelihood of,  or the  risk of  default upon  failure of, such
completion. Accordingly,  the investor  should exercise  his own  judgment  with
respect to such likelihood and risk.
 
    NOTE  RATINGS:  A  Standard  & Poor's  note  rating  reflects  the liquidity
concerns and market access risks unique to  notes. Notes due in 3 years or  less
will  likely receive  a note  rating. Notes  maturing beyond  3 years  will most
likely receive a long-term debt rating.
 
    Note rating symbols are as follows:
 
        SP-1  Very strong  or strong  capacity to  pay principal  and  interest.
              Those   issues   determined   to   possess   overwhelming   safety
              characteristics will be given a plus (+) designation.
 
        SP-2  Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest.
 
RATINGS OF INSURED TRUST UNITS.
 
    A Standard  &  Poor's  Corporation's  rating on  the  units  of  an  insured
investment  trust (hereinafter referred to collectively as "units" and "trusts")
is a current assessment of creditworthiness with respect to the investment  held
by  such trust. This assessment takes  into consideration the financial capacity
of the  issuers and  of any  guarantors, insurers,  lessees or  mortgagors  with
respect to such investments. The assessment, however, does not take into account
the  extent to which trust  expenses or portfolio asset  sales for less than the
trust purchase price will reduce payment  to the unitholder of the interest  and
principal  required to be paid on the  portfolio assets. In addition, the rating
is not a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold units, inasmuch as the  rating
does not comment as to market price of the units or suitability for a particular
investor.
 
    Units rated "AAA" are composed exclusively of assets that are rated "AAA" by
Standard  &  Poor's and/or  certain  short-term investments.  Standard  & Poor's
defines its  AAA  rating for  such  assets as  the  highest rating  assigned  by
Standard  & Poor's  to a  debt obligation.  Capacity to  pay interest  and repay
principal is very strong.  However, unit ratings may  be subject to revision  or
withdrawal  at any time by Standard & Poor's and each rating should be evaluated
independently of any other rating.
 
    MOODY'S INVESTORS  SERVICE, INC.    A brief  description of  the  applicable
Moody's Investors Service, Inc. rating symbols and their meanings follows:
 
    Aaa--Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be the best quality. They carry
the  smallest degree of investment  risk and are generally  referred to as "gilt
edge." Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally  stable
margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely
to  change, such changes  as can be  visualized are most  unlikely to impair the
fundamentally strong position of such issues. Their safety is so absolute  that,
with  the  occasional  exception  of oversupply  in  a  few  specific instances,
characteristically, their  market  value  is affected  solely  by  money  market
fluctuations.
 
                                      A-40
<PAGE>
    Aa--Bonds  which  are rated  Aa  are judged  to be  of  high quality  by all
standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known as
high grade bonds. They are  rated lower than the  best bonds because margins  of
protection  may  not  be  as  large as  in  Aaa  securities  or  fluctuations of
protective elements may be of greater  amplitude or there may be other  elements
present  which  make the  long-term  risks appear  somewhat  larger than  in Aaa
securities. Their  market value  is virtually  immune to  all but  money  market
influences,  with  the  occasional exception  of  oversupply in  a  few specific
instances.
 
    A--Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes  and
are  to be considered as upper medium grade obligations. Factors giving security
to principal and interest are considered  adequate, but elements may be  present
which  suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future. The market
value of A-rated bonds may be influenced to some degree by economic  performance
during  a sustained period of depressed business conditions, but, during periods
of normalcy,  A-rated  bonds  frequently  move  in  parallel  with  Aaa  and  Aa
obligations,  with  the occasional  exception of  oversupply  in a  few specific
instances.
 
    Moody's bond rating  symbols may  contain numerical modifiers  of a  generic
rating  classification. The modifier 1 indicates that the bond ranks at the high
end of  its category;  the modifier  2 indicates  a mid-range  ranking; and  the
modifier 3 indicates that the issue ranks in the lower end of its generic rating
category.
 
    Baa--Bonds  which are rated Baa are  considered as medium grade obligations,
i.e., they are neither  highly protected nor  poorly secured. Interest  payments
and  principal security appear  adequate for the  present but certain protective
elements may be lacking or may  be characteristically unreliable over any  great
length  of time. Such  bonds lack outstanding  investment characteristics and in
fact have speculative  characteristics as  well. The market  value of  Baa-rated
bonds  is more  sensitive to changes  in economic circumstances,  and aside from
occasional speculative factors applying to some bonds of this class, Baa  market
valuations  move in parallel  with Aaa, Aa  and A obligations  during periods of
economic normalcy, except in instances of oversupply.
 
    Con. (--)--Bonds for which the security depends upon the completion of  some
act  or the  fulfillment of  some condition  are rated  conditionally. These are
bonds secured by (a)  earnings of projects under  construction, (b) earnings  of
projects  unseasoned  in  operation  experience, (c)  rentals  which  begin when
facilities are completed, or (d) payments to which some other limiting condition
attaches. Parenthetical rating denotes  probable credit stature upon  completion
of construction or elimination of basis of condition.
 
    NOTE RATINGS:
 
    MIG 1--  This  designation denotes  best  quality. There  is  present strong
           protection by established cash  flows, superior liquidity support  or
           demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.
 
    MIG 2--  This designation  denotes high  quality. Margins  of protection are
           ample although not so large as in the preceding group.
 
                                      A-41
<PAGE>
                      (THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK)
 
                                      A-42
<PAGE>
                      (THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK)
 
                                      A-43
<PAGE>
                      (THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK)
 
                                      A-44
<PAGE>
 
   
<TABLE>
<C>                <S>        <C>
           NUVEEN             Tax-Exempt Unit Trusts
 
                           PROSPECTUS
                           110,000 Units
                           Maryland Traditional Trust
                           307
                           North Carolina Traditional
                           Trust 289
                           New York Insured Trust 236
</TABLE>
    
 
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<C>                 <S>        <C>
            NUVEEN             Tax-Exempt Unit Trusts
 
           SPONSOR             John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
                               333 West Wacker Drive
                               Chicago, IL 60606-1286
                               Telephone: 312.917.7700
 
                               Swiss Bank Tower
                               10 East 50th Street
                               New York, NY 10022
                               212.207.2000
 
           TRUSTEE             United States Trust Company
                               of New York
                               770 Broadway
                               New York, NY 10003
                               800.257.8787
 
     LEGAL COUNSEL             Chapman and Cutler
        TO SPONSOR             111 West Monroe Street
                               Chicago, IL 60603
 
       INDEPENDENT             Arthur Andersen LLP
            PUBLIC             33 West Monroe Street
       ACCOUNTANTS             Chicago, IL 60603
    FOR THE TRUSTS
</TABLE>
 
   Except as to statements made herein furnished by the Trustee, the Trustee has
   assumed  no responsibility for the accuracy, adequacy and completeness of the
   information contained in this Prospectus.
                   This Prospectus does not contain  all of the information  set
   forth in the registration statement and exhibits relating thereto, filed with
   the   Securities  and  Exchange  Commission,   Washington,  D.C.,  under  the
   Securities Act of 1933, and to which reference is made.
                   No person is authorized  to give any  information or to  make
   representations  not contained in  this Prospectus or  in supplementary sales
   literature prepared by the Sponsor, and any information or representation not
   contained therein must not be relied upon as having been authorized by either
   the Trusts, the Trustee or the  Sponsor. This Prospectus does not  constitute
   an  offer to sell,  or a solicitation of  an offer to  buy, securities in any
   State to any  person to  whom it is  not lawful  to make such  offer in  such
   state.  The  Trusts  are registered  as  a  Unit Investment  Trust  under the
   Investment Company Act  of 1940. Such  registration does not  imply that  the
   Trusts  or any of their Units  has been guaranteed, sponsored, recommended or
   approved by the United States or any State or agency or officer thereof.
 
   
   805
    

<PAGE>
                  *********************************************
                  *    PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS DATED  6/01/95  *
                  *********************************************
                          NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    100,000 UNITS                                             SERIES 810
                                                     (A Unit Investment Trust)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

    The attached final Prospectus for a prior Series is hereby used as a
preliminary Prospectus for the above-stated Series.  The narrative 
information and structure of the attached final Prospectus will be 
substantially the same as that of the final Prospectus for this Series.  
Although the attached Prospectus includes trusts as indicated 
therein, the specific trusts included in this Series when deposited may
differ from such trusts.  Information with respect to the actual trusts to
be included, pricing, the number of Units, dates and summary information
regarding the characteristics of securities to be deposited in this Series
is not now available and will be different since each Series has a unique
Portfolio.  Accordingly the information contained herein with regard to the
previous Series should be considered as being included for informational 
purposes only.  Ratings of the securities in this Series are expected to be
comparable to those of the securities deposited in the previous Series.
However, the Estimated Current Return for this Series will depend on the 
interest rates and offering prices of the securities in this Series and may
vary materially from that of the previous Series.

  **************************************************************************
  * A registration statement relating to the units of this Series has been *
  * filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission but has not yet      *
  * become effective.  Information contained herein is subject to comple-  *
  * tion or amendment.  Such Units may not be sold nor may offers to buy   *
  * be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes       *
  * effective.  This Prospectus shall not constitute an offer to sell      *
  * or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale     *
  * of the Units in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale    *
  * would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the     *
  * securities laws of any such state.                                     *
  **************************************************************************



<PAGE>

Statement of differences between electronic filing and printed document.
   Pursuant to Rule 499(c) (7) under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule
0-11 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, Registrant hereby identifies
those differences in the foregoing document between the electronic format in
which it is filed and the printed form in which it will be circulated:
   (1) The printed and distributed prospectus may be paged differently
because the printed document may contain a different amount of information on
each page from that contained in the electronic transmission.
   (2) On the cover page, in the index and on the last page of the printed
document, solid vertical bars will appear.
   (3) In the printed document, footnote symbols may include a "dagger" or
multiple "dagger".  The "dagger" symbol is represented as # in the electronic
document.
   (4) The printed and distributed prospectus will not  contain the
preliminary prospectus legend included at the beginning of the first
prospectus page.


<PAGE>

                 NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST, SERIES 810

                             Cross-Reference Sheet

                     Pursuant to Rule 404(c) of Regulation C
                        under the Securities Act of 1933

               (Form N-8B-2 Items Required by Instruction 1 as
                           to Prospectus on Form S-6)

FORM N-8B-2                                      FORM S-6
ITEM NUMBER                                      HEADING IN PROSPECTUS

    I.   ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL INFORMATION

1.  (a)  Name of trust                    )   Prospectus Cover Page
    (b)  Title of securities issued       )

2.  Name and address of Depositor         )23 Information About the Sponsor

3.  Name and address of Trustee           )22 Information About the Trustee

4.  Name and address of principal         )23 Information About the Sponsor
    Underwriter                           )

5.  Organization of trust                 ) 1 What Is The Nuveen Tax-Exempt
                                          )   Unit Trust?

6.  Execution and termination of          ) 1 What Is The Nuveen Tax-Exempt
    Trust Agreement                       )   Unit Trust?
                                          )22 Information About the Trustee
                                          )24 Other Information

7.  Changes of Name                                    *

8.  Fiscal Year

9.  Litigation

    II.  GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST AND SECURITIES OF THE TRUST

10. General Information regarding         ) 3 Summary of Portfolios
    trust's securities                    ) 5 Why and How are the Bonds
                                              Insured?
                                           13 When Are Distributions
                                              Made to Unitholders?
                                          )18 Ownership and Transfer of Units
                                          )19 How Units May Be Redeemed
                                              Without Charge
                                          )21 How Bonds May Be Removed From
                                          )   The Trusts
                                          )22 Information About the Trustee
                                          )23 Information About the Sponsor
                                          )24 Other Information

                                          )11 What Is The Tax Status of
                                          )   Unitholders?

11. Type of securities comprising         ) 1 What Is The Nuveen Tax-Exempt
    units                                 )   Unit Trust?
                                          ) 3 Summary of Portfolios
                                          ) 4 Composition of Trusts
                                          ) 2 What Are The Objectives Of
                                          )   The Trusts?
                                            5 Why and How are the Bonds
                                              Insured?

12. Certain information regarding         )   *
    periodic payment certificates         )

13. (a)Load, fees, expenses, etc.         )ii Essential Information Regarding
                                          )   the Trusts on Date of Deposit of
                                                Bonds
                                          ) 6 How Is The Public Offering Price
                                          )   Determined?
                                          ) 7 Market For Units
                                          ) 8 What Is Accrued Interest?
                                          ) 9 What Is The Estimated Current
                                          )   Return?
                                          )10 How Was The Price Of The Bonds
                                          )    Determined At Date of Deposit?
                                          )12 What Are Normal Trust Operating
                                          )   Expenses?
                                          ) 3 Summary of Portfolios
                                          )13 When Are Distributions Made
                                          )   to Certificateholders?
                                          )15 How Detailed Are Reports To
                                                Certificateholders?


<PAGE>


    (b)Certain information regarding      )   *
       periodic payment certificates      )


    (c)Certain percentages                ) 6 How Is the Public Offering Price
                                          )   Determined?
                                          ) 7 Market For Units
                                          ) 9 What Is The Estimated Current
                                          )   Return?
                                          )10 How Was The Price of the Bonds
                                          )   Determined At Date of Deposit?
                                          ) 8 What is Accrued Interest?

    (d)Certain other fees, etc.           )10 How Was The Price Of The Bonds
       payable by holders                 )   Determined At Date of Deposit?
                                          )12 What Are Normal Trust Operating
                                          )   Expenses?
                                          )18 Ownership and Transfer of Units

    (e)Certain profits receivable         ) 4 Composition of Trusts
       by depositor, principal under-     )
       writer, trustee or affiliated      )20 How Units May Be Purchased By
       persons                            )   The Sponsor

    (f)Ratio of annual charges
       to income                                *

14. Issuance of trust's securities        ) 3 Summary of Portfolios
                                          )13 When Are Distributions Made
                                          )   To Unitholders?
                                          )18 Ownership and Transfer of Units
                                          )19 How Units May Be Redeemed
                                          )   Without Charge

15. Receipt and handling of payments      )   *
    from purchasers                       )

16. Acquisition and Disposition of        ) 1 What Is The Nuveen Tax-Exempt
    Underlying Securities                 )   Unit Trust?
                                          ) 3 Summary of Portfolios
                                          ) 4 Composition of Trusts
                                          ) 5 Why and How are the Bonds
                                              Insured?
                                          )19 How Units May Be Redeemed
                                              Without Charge
                                          )21 How Bonds May Be Removed From
                                          )   The Trusts
                                          )24 Other Information

17. Withdrawal or redemption              ) 7 Market For Units
                                          )19 How Units May Be Redeemed
                                          )   Without Charge
                                          )20 How Units May Be Purchased By
                                          )   The Sponsor

18. (a)Receipt and disposition of income  ) 3 Summary of Portfolios
                                          )13 When Are  Distributions
                                              Made To Unitholders?
                                          )15 How Detailed Are Reports To
                                          )   Unitholders?

    (b)Reinvestment of distributions      )14 Accumulation Plan

    (c)Reserves or special funds          ) 3 Summary of Portfolios
                                          )13 When Are Distributions
                                          )   Made To Certificateholders?

    (d)Schedule of distributions          )   *

19. Records, accounts and reports         )13 When Are Distributions Made
                                          )   To Certificateholders?
                                          )15 How Detailed Are Reports To
                                          )   Certificateholders?

20. Certain miscellaneous provisions of   )22 Information About the Trustee
    Trust Agreement                       )23 Information About the Sponsor
                                          )24 Other Information


<PAGE>


21. Loans to security holders             )   *

22. Limitations on liability              ) 3 Summary of Portfolios
                                          ) 4 Composition of Trusts
                                          )22 Information About The Trustee

23. Bond arrangements                     )   *

24. Other material provisions of Trust    )   *
    Agreement.                            )

    III. ORGANIZATION, PERSONNEL AND AFFILIATED PERSONS OF DEPOSITOR

25. Organization of Depositor             )23 Information About the Sponsor

26. Fees received by Depositor            )   *

27. Business of Depositor                 )23 Information About the Sponsor

28. Certain information as to officials   )  *
    and affiliated persons of Depositor   )

29. Voting Securities of Depositor        )23 Information About the Sponsor

30. Persons controlling Depositor         )
                                          )
31. Payments by Depositor for certain     )
    services rendered to trust            )
                                          )   *
32. Payments by Depositor for certain     )
    other services rendered to trust      )
                                          )
33. Remuneration of employees of Depositor)
    for certain services rendered to trust)
                                          )
34. Remuneration of other persons for     )
    certain services rendered to trust    )

<PAGE>


    IV.  DISTRIBUTION AND REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

35. Distribution of trust's securities by )
    states                                )
                                          )   *
36. Suspension of sales of trust's        )
    securities                            )
                                          )
37. Revocation of authority to distribute )

38. (a)Method of distribution             )
                                          )
    (b)Underwriting agreements            )17 How Units of The Trusts Are
                                          )   Distributed To The Public
    (c)Selling agreements                 )

39. (a)Organization of principal          )
         underwriter                      )
                                          )23 Information About The Sponsor
    (b)NASD membership of principal       )
         underwriter                      )

40. Certain fees received by principal    )   *
    underwriter


41. (a)Business of principal underwriter  )
                                          )
    (b)Branch offices of principal under- )    *
       writer                             )
                                          )
    (c)Salesmen of principal underwriter  )

42. Ownership of trust's securities by    )   *
    certain persons                       )
                                          )
43. Certain brokerage commissions received)   *
    by principal underwriter              )

44. (a)Method of valuation                )ii Essential Information Regarding
                                          )   The Trusts On Date Of Deposit Of
                                          )   Bonds
                                          ) 6 How Is The Public Offering Price
                                          )   Determined?
                                          )10 How Was The Price Of The Bonds
                                          )   Determined At Date of Deposit?
                                          )12 What Are Normal Trust Operating
                                          )   Expenses?


    (b)Schedule as to offering price      )   *

    (c)Variation in offering price to     ) 6 How Is the Public Offering Price
       certain persons                    )   Determined?
                                          ) 8 What Is Accrued Interest?
                                          )10 How Was The Price Of The Bonds
                                          )   Determined At Date of Deposit?

<PAGE>


45. Suspension of redemption rights       )   *

46. (a)Redemption valuation               )16 Unit Value and Evaluation
                                          )19 How Units May Be Redeemed
                                          )   Without Charge
                                          )20 How Units May Be Purchased By
                                          )   The Sponsor

    (b)Schedule as to redemption price    )   *

47. Maintenance of position in underlying ) 5 How Is the Public Offering Price
    securities                            )   Determined?
                                          )20 How Units May Be Purchased By
                                          )   The Sponsor

    V.   INFORMATION CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE OR CUSTODIAN

48. Organization and regulation of Trustee)21 Information About The Trustee

49. Fees and expenses of Trustee          )ii Essential Information Regarding
                                          )   The Trusts On Date of Deposit Of
                                          )   Bonds
                                          )12 What Are Normal Trust Operating
                                          )   Expenses?

50. Trustee's lien                        )12 What Are Normal Trust Operating
                                          )   Expenses?
                                          )13 When Are Distributions Made
                                          )   To Unitholders?

    VI.  INFORMATION CONCERNING INSURANCE OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

51. Insurance of holders of trust's       )   *
    securities                            )

                        VII.  POLICY OF REGISTRANT

52. (a)Provisions of trust agreement with )12 What Are Normal Trust Operating
       respect to selection or elimination)   Expenses?
       of underlying securities           )19 How Units May Be Redeemed With-
                                          )   out Charge
                                          )21 How Bonds May Be Removed From
                                          )   The Trusts

    (b)Transactions involving elimination )   *
       of underlying securities           )

    (c)Policy regarding substitution or   ) 3 Summary of Portfolio
       elimination of underlying          ) 4 Composition of Trusts
       securities                         )21 How Bonds May Be Removed From
                                          )   The Trusts

    (d)Fundamental policy not otherwise   )   *
       covered                            )

53. Tax status of trust                   )11 What Is The Tax Status Of
                                          )   Unitholders?

    VIII. FINANCIAL AND STATISTICAL INFORMATION

54. Trust's securities during last ten years)   *

55.)                                      )   *
56.)Certain information regarding         )
57.)periodic payment certificates         )
58.)                                      )

__________

*Inapplicable, omitted, answer negative or not required.



<PAGE>

                       CONTENTS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT

A.  BONDING ARRANGEMENTS OF DEPOSITOR:

    The Depositor has obtained the following Stockbrokers Blanket Bonds for
    its officers, directors and employees:

    INSURER/POLICY NO.                                     AMOUNT

    United Pacific Insurance Co.                           $10,000,000
    Reliance Insurance Company
    B 74 92 20

    Aetna Casualty and Surety                              $10,000,000
    08 F10618BCA

    St. Paul Insurance Co.                                 $ 6,000,000
    400 HC 1051

B.  This Registration Statement comprises the following papers and documents:

    The facing sheet

    The Prospectus

    The signatures

    Consents of Counsel

    Exhibits


<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES


    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the 
Registrant, Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 810, has duly caused 
this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned 
thereunto  duly authorized in the City of Chicago and State of Illinois 
on 6/01/95.
 

                               NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST, SERIES 810
                                  (Registrant)

                                  By JOHN NUVEEN & CO. INCORPORATED
                                  (Depositor)

                              
                                    By:  Larry Woods Martin 
                                         _______________________
                                         Vice President
                                         

                              
                                Attest:  Morrison C. Warren
                                         ___________________
                                         Assistant Secretary 
                                         


    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons 
in the capacities and on the date indicated:

SIGNATURE                    *TITLE                        DATE

Richard J. Franke       Chairman, Board of Directors, )
                        Chief Executive Officer and   )
                        Director                      )
                                                      )
Donald E. Sveen         President, Chief Operating    )
                        Officer and Director          )
                                                      )
Anthony T. Dean         Executive Vice President and  )Larry Woods Martin
                        Director                      )Attorney-in-Fact**
                                                      )
Timothy T. Schwertfeger Executive Vice President and  )
                        Director                      )
                                                      )
O. Walter Renfftlen     Vice President and Controller )
                        (Principal Accounting Officer))
                                                      )
                                                      )6/01/95

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*The titles of the persons named herein represent their capacity in and
relationship to John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated, the Depositor.

**The powers of attorney were filed on Form SE for Messrs. Franke, Sveen,
Renfftlen, Dean and Schwerfeger with the Amendment to the Registration
Statement on Form S-6 of Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 671
(File No. 33-49175). 




<PAGE>


                          CONSENT OF CHAPMAN AND CUTLER

    The consent of Chapman and Cutler to the use of its name in the Prospectus
included in the Registration Statement will be filed by Amendment.

                            CONSENT OF STATE COUNSEL

    The consents of special counsel to the Fund for state tax matters to the
use of their names in the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement
will be filed by Amendment.

                    CONSENT OF STANDARD + POOR'S CORPORATION

    The consent of Standard + Poor's Corporation to the use of its name
in the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement will be filed by
Amendment.

                    CONSENT OF KENNY S+P EVALUATION SERVICES

    The consent of Kenny S+P Evaluation Services to the use of its name in the
Prospectus included in the Registration Statement will be filed by Amendment.

                      CONSENT OF CARTER, LEDYARD & MILBURN

    The consent of Carter, Ledyard & Milburn to the use of its name in the
Prospectus included in the Registration Statement will be filed by Amendment.

                        CONSENT OF ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

    The consent of Arthur Andersen LLP to the use of its report and to the
reference to such firm in the Prospectus included in the Registration 
Statement will be filed by Amendment.



<PAGE>

LIST OF EXHIBITS:

    1.1(a)    Copy of Trust Indenture and Agreement between John Nuveen & Co.
              Incorporated, Depositor, and United States Trust Company of
              New York, Trustee.  Filed as Exhibit 1.1(A) to the Sponsor's
              Registration Statement filed with respect to Series 723
              (File No. 33-52527) and is incorporated herein by reference. 

    1.1(b)    Schedules to Trust Indenture and Agreement (to be supplied by
              amendment).

    1.2*      Copy of Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of John Nuveen
              & Co. Incorporated, Depositor.

    1.3**     Copy of amendment of Certificate of Incorporation changing name
              of Depositor to John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated.

    2.1       Copy of Certificate of Ownership (included in Exhibit 1.1(A) and
              Incorporated herein by reference).

    3.1       Opinion of counsel as to legality of securities being registered
              (to be supplied by amendment).

    3.2       Opinion of counsel as to Federal income tax status of securities
              being registered (to be supplied by amendment).

    3.3       Consents of special state counsel to the Fund for state tax
              matters to use of their names in the Prospectus (to be supplied
              by amendment).

    4.1       Consent of Standard + Poor's Corporation (to be supplied by
              amendment).

    4.2       Consent of Kenny S+P Evaluation Services (to be supplied by
              amendment).

    4.3       Consent of Carter, Ledyard & Milburn (to be supplied by
              amendment).

    6.1       List of Directors and Officers of Depositor and other related
              information (incorporated by reference to Form S-6 [File 
              No. 33-58059] filed on March 13, 1995 on behalf of Nuveen
              Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 795).

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*Incorporated by reference to Form N-8B-2 (File No. 811-1547) filed on 
behalf of Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 16.

**Incorporated by reference to Form N-8B-2 (File No. 811-2198) filed on 
behalf of Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 37.


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