NUVEEN TAX EXEMPT UNIT TRUST SERIES 817
S-6EL24, 1995-07-11
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                                                      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 817

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>
                                                                               B
                                 JULY 10, 1995
                             SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
 
NUVEEN  Tax-Exempt Unit Trusts
             PROSPECTUS -- PART B
            (GENERAL TERMS)
              DATED
- -------, 1995
 
THIS  PART B OF THE PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE DISTRIBUTED UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY PART
A. BOTH PARTS OF THIS PROSPECTUS SHOULD BE RETAINED FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
FURTHER DETAIL REGARDING CERTAIN OF  THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE  PROSPECTUS
MAY  BE OBTAINED WITHIN FIVE  BUSINESS DAYS OF WRITTEN  OR TELEPHONIC REQUEST TO
THE TRUSTEE AT 770 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, NY 10003 OR (800) 257-8787.
 
INTEREST INCOME TO A TRUST 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.
 
THIS NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT  UNIT TRUST  SERIES consists of  the underlying  separate
unit  investment  trust set  forth  in Part  I  to this  Prospectus.  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  "Schedule of Investments"
appearing in Part I  of this Prospectus ).  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 "WHY AND HOW ARE THE BONDS INSURED?")
 
THE  OBJECTIVES of  a Trust  are tax-exempt  income and  conservation of capital
through a diversified investment  in tax-exempt Bonds.  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 a Trust's objectives will be
achieved. (See "RISK FACTORS".)
 
DISTRIBUTIONS of interest received by a Trust will be made semi-annually  unless
the  Unitholder  elects to  receive them  monthly or  quarterly. (See  "WHEN ARE
DISTRIBUTIONS MADE  TO UNITHOLDERS?")  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 Part I of this
Prospectus and  "WHAT  ARE ESTIMATED  LONG  TERM RETURN  AND  ESTIMATED  CURRENT
RETURN?")
 
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 "HOW IS THE PUBLIC
OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?") 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 three
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 "HOW IS THE PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?")
 
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  "HOW UNITS  MAY BE  REDEEMED  WITHOUT CHARGE?")  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  "MARKET FOR  UNITS".)  RETAIN BOTH  PART I  AND  PART II  OF  THIS
PROSPECTUS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
 
RISK  FACTORS. An investment in a Trust  should be made with an understanding of
the risks associated therewith, including, among other factors, the inability of
the issuer or an insurer to pay the principal of or interest on a bond when due,
volatile interest rates, early call provisions, and changes to the tax status of
the Bonds. See Part I of this Prospectus and "RISK FACTORS."
 
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                                                             PAGE
<C>   <S>                                              <C>        <C>
      WHAT IS THE NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT TRUST?                                 3
      WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES OF THE TRUSTS?                               3
      SUMMARY OF PORTFOLIOS                                                4
      RISK FACTORS                                                         4
      COMPOSITION OF TRUSTS                                                6
      WHY AND HOW ARE THE BONDS INSURED?                                   8
      HOW IS THE PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?                         9
      MARKET FOR UNITS                                                    11
      WHAT IS ACCRUED INTEREST?                                           12
      WHAT ARE ESTIMATED LONG TERM RETURN AND ESTIMATED
      CURRENT RETURN?                                                     12
      HOW WAS THE PRICE OF THE BONDS DETERMINED AT THE
      DATE
      OF DEPOSIT?                                                         13
      WHAT IS THE TAX STATUS OF UNITHOLDERS?                              14
      WHAT ARE NORMAL TRUST OPERATING EXPENSES?                           16
      WHEN ARE DISTRIBUTIONS MADE TO UNITHOLDERS?                         16
      ACCUMULATION PLAN                                                   17
      HOW DETAILED ARE REPORTS TO UNITHOLDERS?                            18
      UNIT VALUE AND EVALUATION                                           19
      HOW UNITS OF THE TRUSTS ARE DISTRIBUTED TO THE
      PUBLIC                                                              19
      OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER OF UNITS                                     20
      HOW UNITS MAY BE REDEEMED WITHOUT CHARGE                            21
      HOW UNITS MAY BE PURCHASED BY THE SPONSOR                           22
      HOW BONDS MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE TRUSTS                            23
      INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRUSTEE                                       23
      INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPONSOR                                       24
      OTHER INFORMATION                                                   24
</TABLE>
 
                  2
<PAGE>
WHAT IS THE NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST?
 
This  Series 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 the underlying
separate  unit  investment  trusts,  combined  under  one  trust  indenture  and
agreement,  as set forth  in Part A  of this Prospectus.  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 the Date of Deposit (the "Indenture") between John
Nuveen & Co. Incorporated (the "Sponsor") and United States Trust Company of New
York (the "Trustee").
 
    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) (the "Bonds"). See "Schedules of Investments" in Part  A
of  this Prospectus, for a  description of the Securities  deposited in a Trust.
See "SUMMARY OF PORTFOLIOS" and "RISK  FACTORS" for a discussion of zero  coupon
bonds  and stripped  obligations included  in the  Trusts, if  any. 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" in  Part A of  this
Prospectus  and  "COMPOSITION  OF TRUSTS".  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 "COMPOSITION OF TRUSTS."
 
    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 "WHY  AND HOW ARE THE  BONDS INSURED?") 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 which 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 set forth in  "Essential
Information"  in Part A of this Prospectus. Units  may only be sold in states in
which they  are registered.  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.
 
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  and  certain  state  income  tax  and
intangibles taxes, if any, for purchasers who qualify as residents of that State
in  which Bonds are issued. 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 and "AAA" by Standard & Poor's. (See "WHY AND
HOW ARE THE BONDS INSURED?") 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 Traditional Trust) by Standard & Poor's  or
Moody's  (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. 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 the Appendices to the Information  Supplement
of this Prospectus.
 
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 "WHAT ARE
THE OBJECTIVES OF THE TRUSTS?" 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. (See "WHY AND HOW ARE THE BONDS INSURED?")
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
RISK FACTORS
 
    An  investment in Units of any Trust should be made with an understanding of
the risks that such an investment may entail. Each Trust consists of  fixed-rate
municipal  debt  obligations. As  such, 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. The Sponsor cannot  predict
the  extent or timing  of such fluctuations and,  accordingly, their effect upon
the value of the debt obligations.  Additional risk factors include the  ability
of  the issuer, or, if applicable, an  insurer, to make payments of interest and
principal when  due, "mandatory  put" features,  early call  provisions and  the
potential  for changes in the tax status of the Bonds. As set forth in Part A of
this Prospectus, the Trusts may contain or be concentrated in one or more of the
types of bonds discussed below. The following paragraphs briefly 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,  and
which  also  therefore 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. The Bonds
described  below  may  be  subject   to  special  or  extraordinary   redemption
provisions.  For economic risks specific to the individual Trusts, see Part A of
this Prospectus  and  the  Appendices  to the  Information  Supplement  of  this
Prospectus.
 
    Health  Facility Obligations are  obligations of issuers  whose revenues are
derived from services  provided by  hospitals or other  health care  facilities,
including  nursing  homes. The  ability  of such  issuers  to make  debt service
payments on  these  obligations  is  dependent  on  various  factors,  including
occupancy  levels  of the  facility, demand  for  services, wages  of employees,
overhead  expenses,  competition  from   other  similar  providers,   government
regulation,  the cost of  malpractice insurance, and  the degree of governmental
financial assistance, including Medicare and Medicaid.
 
    Housing Obligations are obligations of issuers whose revenues are  primarily
derived  from mortgage loans on single family residences or housing projects for
low to moderate income families. Housing obligations are generally prepayable at
any time and  therefore their average  life will ordinarily  be less than  their
stated  maturities. The ability of such issuers to make debt service payments on
these obligations is dependent on  various factors, including occupancy  levels,
rental  income, mortgage default rates,  taxes, operating expenses, governmental
regulations and the appropriation of subsidies.
 
    Industrial  Revenue  Obligations  are  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. Debt  service  payment on  IRBs  is dependent  upon  various  factors,
including  the creditworthiness of the corporate operator of the project and, if
applicable, corporate guarantor, revenues  generated from the project,  expenses
associated with the project and regulatory and environmental restrictions.
 
    Electric  Utility Obligations are obligations  of issuers whose revenues are
primarily derived from the sale of electric energy. The ability of such  issuers
to  make  debt service  payments on  these obligations  is dependent  on various
factors, including the rates  for electricity, the  demand for electricity,  the
degree  of competition, governmental regulation,  overhead expenses and variable
costs, such as fuel.
 
    Transportation Facility Revenue Bonds are  obligations of issuers which  are
payable from and secured by revenues derived from the ownership and operation of
airports,  highway public transit  systems and ports. The  ability of issuers to
make debt service payments on airport obligations is dependent on the capability
of airlines to  meet their obligations  under use agreements.  Due to  increased
competition, deregulation, increased fuel costs and other factors, many airlines
may  have difficulty meeting their obligations under these use agreements. 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.  The
revenue  of issuers of transit system obligations will be affected by variations
in  utilization,  which  in  turn  may  be  affected  by  the  degree  of  local
governmental  subsidization, competition from other forms of transportation, and
increased costs.  Port authorities  derive their  revenues primarily  from  fees
imposed on ships using the facilities which may fluctuate depending on the local
economy  and on competition from competing  forms of transportation such as air,
rail and  trucks. The  revenues  of issuers  which  derive their  payments  from
bridge, road or tunnel toll revenues could be adversely affected by increases in
fuel   costs,  competition  from  toll-free  vehicular  bridges  and  roads  and
alternative modes of transportation.
 
    Water and/or Sewerage Obligations are obligations of issuers whose  revenues
are  payable from user fees from the sale of water and/or sewerage services. The
problems   of   such    issuers   include   the    ability   to   obtain    rate
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
increases,  population  declines, the  limitations  on operations  and increased
costs and delays attributable to environmental considerations, the  difficulties
obtaining  new supplies of fresh water,  the effect of conservation programs and
in "no-growth" zoning ordinances.
 
    University and College Revenue Obligations are obligations of issuers  whose
revenues  are  derived  mainly  from  tuition,  dormitory  revenues,  grants and
endowments. General problems  of number of  "college" age individuals,  possible
inability  to raise tuitions  and fees, 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.
 
    Dedicated-Tax  Supported Bonds are 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 are obligations that are secured by lease payments  of
a  governmental entity and 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 are bonds which  were
issued  with  nominal  interest  rates  less  than  the  rates  then  offered by
comparable securities and as  a consequence were originally  sold at a  discount
from  their face,  or par,  values. 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. 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  ("Stripped Obligations"). Each
Stripped Obligation has been purchased at a discount from the amount payable  at
maturity.  A Stripped Obligation therefore  has economic characteristics similar
to zero coupon bonds, as described above.
 
    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 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.
 
    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
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
amount  thereof on a stated  date prior to the  maturity date unless such holder
affirmatively acts to retain the bond.  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.
 
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"
in Part A of this Prospectus 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. 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  believes it  unlikely, 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" in  Part A of  this
Prospectus.  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
"Schedule of Investments" in Part A of this Prospectus.
 
    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 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  must satisfy the  criteria previously  described for the
Trusts and shall be substantially identical to the Failed Bonds they replace  in
terms  of (i) the exemption from federal  and state taxation; (ii) maturity and;
(iii) cost to the Trust. In addition,  Replacement Bonds 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.
 
    To  the extent Replacement Bonds are  not acquired, 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.
See the discussion of the
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
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. The exercise of  redemption or call provisions  is
more  likely to occur in  situations where when the  Bonds have an offering side
evaluation which represents a  premium over par (as  opposed to a discount  from
par).  (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 "WHAT IS THE TAX STATUS  OF UNITHOLDERS?" and "WHEN ARE DISTRIBUTIONS  MADE
TO  UNITHOLDERS?" in Part B and the "Schedule  of Investments" in Part A of this
Prospectus.)
 
    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.
 
WHY AND HOW ARE THE BONDS INSURED?
 
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 claims-paying  ability  of  both the
Insurer and the  Association was rated  "AAA Prime Grade"  by Standard &  Poor's
Ratings  Group.  Moody's Investors  Service rates  all  bond issuers  insured by
either the Insurer or  the Association "Aaa" and  short-term loans "MIG1,"  both
designated  to be  of the highest  quality. 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).
 
    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
Ratings Group in recognition of such insurance.
 
    If a Bond in a Traditional  Trust is insured, the "Schedule of  Investments"
appearing in Part A of this Prospectus will identify the insurer. The Sponsor to
date has purchased and presently intends to purchase
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
insurance for Bonds in Traditional Trusts exclusively from 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   Ratings  Group  and/or  Moody's   Investor's  Service  have  rated  the
claims-paying ability of each insurer "AAA" or "Aaa," respectively.
 
    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 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 December  31, 1993  the Insurer had  admitted assets  of $3.1 billion
(audited), total liabilities of  $2.1 billion (audited),  and total capital  and
surplus  of  $978  million  (audited) 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.
 
    The  Association is comprised  of the five insurance  companies set forth in
the following table, which provides certain unaudited financial information with
respect to each of the five insurance companies comprising the Association.
 
                      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>
 
    Insurance companies  are subject  to  extensive regulation  and  supervision
where  they  do  business  by state  insurance  commissioners  who  regulate the
standards of solvency which must be maintained, the nature of and limitations on
investments, reports of financial condition, and requirements regarding reserves
for unearned premiums, losses  and other matters. A  significant portion of  the
assets  of insurance companies are required by law to be held in reserve against
potential claims on policies and is not available to general creditors. Although
the federal  government does  not regulate  the business  of insurance,  federal
initiatives  including  pension  regulation,  controls  on  medical  care costs,
minimum standards for no-fault automobile insurance, national health  insurance,
tax  law changes affecting life insurance  companies and repeal of the antitrust
exemption for  the insurance  business can  significantly impact  the  insurance
business.
 
    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. See the Information
Supplement--for further information concerning insurance.
 
    Because the insurance on the Bonds, if any, 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.
 
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 set forth  in "Essential Information" in Part A of
this Prospectus, in each case
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
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.
 
    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 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
                                                                                   ----------------------  ----------------------
<S>                                                                                <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....................................................................        4.90%      5.152%       4.25%      4.439%
500 but less than 1,000..........................................................        4.75       4.987        4.15       4.330
1,000 but less than 2,500........................................................        4.50       4.712        3.85       4.004
2,500 but less than 5,000........................................................        4.25       4.439        3.60       3.734
5,000 but less than 10,000.......................................................        3.50       3.627        3.35       3.466
10,000 but less than 25,000......................................................        3.00       3.093        3.00       3.093
25,000 but less than 50,000......................................................        2.50       2.564        2.50       2.564
50,000 or more...................................................................        2.00       2.041        2.00       2.041
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                                                                    INTERMEDIATE TRUSTS
                                                                                   ----------------------
<S>                                                                                <C>          <C>
                                                                                     PERCENT     PERCENT
                                                                                       OF        OF NET
                                                                                    OFFERING     AMOUNT
                                NUMBER OF UNITS*                                      PRICE     INVESTED
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------  -----------  ---------
Less than 500....................................................................        3.90%      4.058%
500 but less than 1,000..........................................................        3.70       3.842
1,000 but less than 2,500........................................................        3.50       3.627
2,500 but less than 5,000........................................................        3.25       3.359
5,000 but less than 10,000.......................................................        3.00       3.093
10,000 but less than 25,000......................................................        2.75       2.828
25,000 but less than 50,000......................................................        2.50       2.564
50,000 or more...................................................................        2.00       2.041
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     SHORT INTERMEDIATE
                                                                                           TRUSTS            SHORT TERM TRUSTS
                                                                                   ----------------------  ----------------------
<S>                                                                                <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
 
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                                <C>          <C>
                                NUMBER OF UNITS*
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 500....................................................................
500 but less than 1,000..........................................................
1,000 but less than 2,500........................................................
2,500 but less than 5,000........................................................
5,000 but less than 10,000.......................................................
10,000 but less than 25,000......................................................
25,000 but less than 50,000......................................................
50,000 or more...................................................................
</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 in the Information Supplement to this Prospectus and is based upon the
number of years
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
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.
 
    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.
 
    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 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.
 
    Accrued interest from the preceding Record  Date to, but not including,  the
settlement  date of the transaction (three business days after purchase) will be
added to the Public Offering Price to determine the purchase price of Units. See
"WHAT IS ACCRUED INTEREST?".
 
    The graduated sales  charges set  forth in the  Information Supplement  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  "HOW
UNITS  OF  THE TRUSTS  ARE  DISTRIBUTED TO  THE  PUBLIC") 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 between 1/2% to 2% more than the BID
prices  of such Bonds.  The difference between  the bid side  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 "UNIT VALUE
AND EVALUATION.")
 
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
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
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. UNITHOLDERS  WHO
WISH  TO DISPOSE OF THEIR UNITS SHOULD INQUIRE OF THE TRUSTEE OR THEIR BROKER AS
TO THE  CURRENT  REDEMPTION PRICE.  (See  "HOW  UNITS MAY  BE  REDEEMED  WITHOUT
CHARGE.")  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 (three business days after purchase) as the Trustee
can  complete  the mechanics  of registration,  normally  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 "HOW UNITS MAY BE REDEEMED WITHOUT CHARGE?")
 
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  date of  settlement.  Accrued
interest  does not  include accrual  of original  issue discount  on zero coupon
bonds, Stripped Obligations  or other  original issue  discount bonds.  Interest
accrues  to the  benefit of Unitholders  commencing with the  settlement date of
their purchase transaction.
 
   
    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, the amount
of accrued interest  to be  added to  the Public  Offering Price  of Units  will
include  only accrued interest from  the Date of Deposit  to, but not including,
the date of  settlement of the  investor's purchase (three  business days  after
purchase), less any distributions from the related Interest Account. 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 Part A of this Prospectus  and
"WHEN  ARE DISTRIBUTIONS MADE TO UNITHOLDERS?") 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 third business  day following  the
date of sale or tender.
 
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  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
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
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
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.  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.
 
    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" appearing
in Part A  of this  Prospectus, "COMPOSITION  OF TRUSTS"  and "WHAT  IS THE  TAX
STATUS OF UNITHOLDERS?")
 
    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 the Prospectus.
 
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  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 "WHY AND HOW ARE THE BONDS INSURED?")
 
    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 Part  A of  this Prospectus.)  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.
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
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  Part
A  of this Prospectus. 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.  If the
interest on a Bond should be determined to be taxable, the Bond would  generally
have  to be  sold at  a substantial  discount. In  addition, investors  could be
required to pay  income tax  on interest  received prior  to the  date of  which
interest is determined to be taxable.
    
 
   
    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 tax-exempt  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.  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.
    
 
    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;
 
    (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.
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
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 Part A of this Prospectus.
 
    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 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.
 
    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.
 
    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 PART  A OF THIS  PROSPECTUS, 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.
 
WHAT ARE NORMAL TRUST OPERATING EXPENSES?
 
No annual advisory fee is charged the  Trusts by the Sponsor. The Sponsor  does,
however, receive a fee as set forth in "Essential Information" in Part A of this
Prospectus  for regularly evaluating the  Bonds and for maintaining surveillance
over the portfolio. (See "UNIT VALUE AND EVALUATION.")
 
    The Trustee receives for ordinary recurring services an annual fee for  each
plan  of distribution  for each  Trust as  set forth  in "Essential Information"
appearing in Part A of this Prospectus. 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
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
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.
 
    Expenses incurred in establishing the  Trusts, including costs of  preparing
the  registrations statement, the  trust indenture and  other closing documents,
registering Units with the  Securities and Exchange  Commission and states,  the
initial  audit of each Trust portfolio and  the initial fees and expenses of the
Trustee and any  other out-of-pocket expenses,  will be paid  by the Trusts  and
amortized over the first five years of such Trusts. The following are additional
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 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.
 
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. See Part  A of this
Prospectus for details of distributions per Unit of each Trust under the various
plans based upon estimated  Net Annual Interest Income  at the Date of  Deposit.
The  amount of  the regular distributions  will generally change  when Bonds are
redeemed, mature or are sold or when fees and expenses increase or decrease. 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 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 "OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER OF UNITS.")
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
    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. In addition, 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.
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.
 
ACCUMULATION PLAN
 
The Sponsor  is  also  the  principal  underwriter  of  the  Accumulation  Funds
described  in  the  following  table.  Each  of  these  funds  is  an  open-end,
diversified management investment company into  which Unitholders may choose  to
reinvest   Trust   distributions  automatically,   without  any   sales  charge.
(Reinvestment generally 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 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. For  a
more  detailed description,  Unitholders of  each Accumulation  Fund should read
carefully the prospectus of the Accumulation Fund in which they are  interested.
For  additional information concerning the Accumulation Plan see the Information
Supplement of this Prospectus.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                      ACCUMULATION FUND                                            GENERAL FUND DESCRIPTION
- --------------------------------------------------------------  --------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                             <C>
The Bond Fund                                                   Tax-exempt  income   by  investing   in  long-term   municipal
                                                                securities.
Tax-Free Reserves and The Money Market Fund:
Nuveen  Massachusetts  Tax-Free Money  Market Fund  Nuveen New  Tax-exempt and in certain cases double and triple tax-  exempt
York Tax-Free Money Market Fund                                 "money market" funds with checkwriting privileges.
The California Fund:
The Nuveen California Tax-Free Value Fund                       Double  tax-exempt income by investing in long-term investment
                                                                grade California tax-exempt securities.
The Nuveen California Insured Tax-Free Value Fund               Double tax-exempt income  by investing  in insured  California
                                                                tax-exempt securities.
The Nuveen California Tax-Free Money Market Fund                California  tax-exempt "money  market" fund  with checkwriting
                                                                privileges.
The Tax-Free Bond Fund and the Multistate Trust:
Nuveen Massachusetts  Tax-Free  Value Fund,  Nuveen  New  York  Double  and  in  certain  cases  triple  tax-exempt  income by
Tax-Free Value Fund, Nuveen  Ohio Tax-Free Value Fund,  Nuveen  investing  in tax-exempt securities in the state for which the
New Jersey Tax-Free Value Fund, Nuveen Arizona Tax-Free  Value  portfolio is named.
Fund,  Nuveen  Florida  Tax-Free Value  Fund,  Nuveen Maryland
Tax-Free Value  Fund,  Nuveen Michigan  Tax-Free  Value  Fund,
Nuveen  New  Jersey Tax-Free  Value Fund,  Nuveen Pennsylvania
Tax-Free Value Fund and Nuveen Virginia Tax-Free Value Fund
The Insured Bond Fund:
Nuveen  Insured  Municipal  Bond  Fund,  Nuveen  Massachusetts  Tax-exempt  and in certain cases double and triple tax- exempt
Insured Tax-Free Value  Fund and the  Nuveen New York  Insured  funds  investing in insured tax-exempt securities in the state
Tax-Free Value Fund.                                            for which the portfolio is named.
</TABLE>
    
 
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.
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
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.
 
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 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.
 
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.
 
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, 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
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
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. 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.
 
    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  "MARKET FOR  UNITS." 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 "HOW IS THE PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE  DETERMINED?",
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 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 "HOW IS THE PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?").
 
    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.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
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
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.   This
indemnification  must be in the form of an Open Penalty Bond of Indemnification.
The premium for such an indemnity bond may vary, 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.
 
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  above, or provide satisfactory  indemnity required in connection with
lost,  stolen  or   destroyed  Certificates  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.  (See
"OWNERSHIP  AND  TRANSFER  OF UNITS".)  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. The time a  telephone redemption request  is
received  determines the  "date of  tender" as  discussed below.  The redemption
proceeds will  be mailed  within  three business  days following  the  telephone
redemption  request. Only Units held in the  name of individuals may be redeemed
by telephone; accounts registered in broker name, or accounts of corporations or
fiduciaries
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
(including among others, trustees, guardians, executors and administrators)  may
not use the telephone redemption privilege.
 
    On  the third business day following the date of tender, 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 third business day after the date of tender ("Redemption Price").
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.
Unitholders should  check with  the Trustee  or their  broker to  determine  the
Redemption Price before tendering Units.
 
    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  "HOW BONDS MAY  BE REMOVED FROM  THE TRUSTS.") 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 1/2%  to 2% of
principal amount. 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  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 a specified percentage of the principal amount of a Unit
redemption if the Trustee has not been 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."
 
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 "HOW UNITS MAY BE REDEEMED WITHOUT
CHARGE.") 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.
 
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 Part A of  this Prospectus and "RISK  FACTORS" 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
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
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. 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 "COMPOSITION OF  TRUSTS" 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.
 
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. 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.
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 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.
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
    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.
 
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     mutual funds and     closed-end
funds.  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.
 
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 "COMPOSITION OF TRUSTS" 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" appearing in Part A of this Prospectus.)
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
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
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
appearing in  Part A  of this  Prospectus.  Carter, Ledyard  & Milburn,  2  Wall
Street,  New York,  New York 10005,  has acted  as counsel for  the 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 Part  A of  this  Prospectus have  been audited  by  Arthur
Andersen  LLP, independent public  accountants, as indicated  in their report in
Part A  of  this  Prospectus, and  are  included  herein in  reliance  upon  the
authority of said firm as experts in giving said report.
 
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
 
    Upon written or telephonic request to the Trustee, investors will receive at
no  cost to the  investor supplemental information about  this Series, which has
been  filed  with  the  Securities   and  Exchange  Commission  and  is   hereby
incorporated  by reference. The supplemental  information includes more detailed
information concerning certain  of the  Bonds included  in the  Trusts and  more
specific   risk  information  concerning  the   individual  state  Trusts.  This
supplement also includes additional general information about the Sponsor.
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
                                                                               A
NUVEEN                 NUVEEN NATIONAL INSURED TRUST 302
                  (NUVEEN TAX EXEMPT UNIT TRUSTS SERIES     )
 
                                                CUSIP NUMBERS:
 
                                                   Monthly:           6710A4 132
                                                   Quarterly:         6710A4 140
                                                   Semi-Annually:     6710A4 157
 
                      PROSPECTUS--PART A (SPECIFIC TERMS)
              THIS PART A OF THE PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE DISTRIBUTED
UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY THE PART B OF THE PROSPECTUS DATED                 , 1995.
     BOTH PARTS OF THE PROSPECTUS SHOULD BE RETAINED FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
 
    The   Portfolio  of  National  Insured  Trust  302  consists  of  long  term
(approximately 15 to 40 year maturities) obligations issued by entities  located
in  states.  The  Bonds in  the  Trust  are either  general  obligations  of the
governmental entity issuing them and are  backed by the taxing power thereof  or
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 the Bonds are divided as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 NUMBER OF                                                                                   PORTFOLIO
  ISSUES                                   PURPOSE OF ISSUE                                  PERCENTAGE
- -----------  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------  ------------
<C>          <S>                                                                            <C>
     2       Dedicated-Tax Supported Revenue                                                          %
     1       College and University Revenue
     2       Electrical System Revenue
     2       Health Care Facility Revenue
     1       Municipal Lease Revenue
     2       Water and/or Sewer Revenue
</TABLE>
 
    All  of the Bonds in  the National Insured Trust  are covered by policies of
insurance obtained from the MBIA  Insurance Corporation guaranteeing payment  of
principal and interest when due. As a result of such insurance, the Bonds in the
Trust  have received a  rating of "Aaa"  by Moody's Investors  Service, Inc. and
both the Bonds in the Trust and the Units of the Trust have received a rating of
"AAA" by Standard & Poor's.
 
    For a discussion of  the risks associated with  investments in the bonds  of
various  issuers, see "GENERAL TRUST INFORMATION"  in Part B of this Prospectus.
Certain of the Bonds  may be insured  by a commercial  issuer, see "Schedule  of
Investments" and "INSURANCE ON CERTAIN BONDS IN TRADITIONAL TRUSTS" in Part B of
this Prospectus.
 
                             ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
                REGARDING THE NUVEEN NATIONAL INSURED TRUST 302
     ON THE BUSINESS DAY PRIOR TO THE DATE OF DEPOSIT,               , 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,  quarterly  or  semi-annual   distribution
options.
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                   <C>
Principal Amount of Bonds in Trust..................  $             2
Number of Units.....................................
Fractional Undivided Interest in Trust Per Unit.....
Public Offering Price--Less than 500 Units
    Aggregate Offering Price of Bonds in Trust......  $
    Divided by Number of Units......................  $
    Plus Sales Charge 4.9% (5.152% of the Aggregate
     Offering Price of the Bonds per Unit)..........  $
    Public Offering Price Per Unit(1)...............  $
Redemption Price Per Unit (exclusive of accrued
  interest).........................................  $
Sponsor's Initial Repurchase Price Per Unit
  (exclusive of accrued interest)...................  $
</TABLE>
 
- ----------
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.
 
                                     1 of 6
<PAGE>
                         ESSENTIAL INFORMATION (CONT.)
<TABLE>
<S>                                                   <C>
Excess of Public Offering Price Per Unit over
  Redemption Price Per Unit.........................  $
Excess of Public Offering Price Per Unit over
  Sponsor's Repurchase Price Per Unit...............  $
Average Maturity of Bonds in the Trust(2)...........            years
<CAPTION>
 
                                                          MONTHLY
                                                      SEMI-ANNUAL ---
                                                                QUARTERLY
                                                                --
                                                                ------------------------------
<S>                                                   <C>                 <C>   <C>
  Calculation of Estimated Net Annual
    Interest Income Per Unit
      Annual Interest Income(3)............               $               $              $
      Less Estimated Annual Expense........               $               $              $
                                                -----------     -----------     -----------
      Estimated Net Annual Interest
        Income(4)..........................               $               $              $
  Daily Rate of Accrual Per Unit...........               $               $              $
  ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN(5)..............                %               %               %
  ESTIMATED LONG TERM RETURN(5)............                %               %               %
  Trustee's Annual Fees(6).................               $               $              $
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                       <C>
Settlement Date.............................................................................                , 1995
Mandatory Termination Date....................................See "OTHER INFORMATION" in Part B of this Prospectus
Minimum Value of Each Trust...................................See "OTHER INFORMATION" in Part B of this Prospectus
Sponsor's Annual Evaluation Fee.........................................$0.17 per $1,000 principal amount of Bonds
Estimated Annual Organizational Expenses(7).............................................................$ per Unit
- ----------
 
<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 "HOW IS THE PUBLIC  OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?" in Part B of this
Prospectus.)
(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 three 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 Trust and,  accordingly, for  Units purchased on  the Date  of
    Deposit,  $ of accrued  interest to the  Settlement Date will be  added to the  Public Offering Price.  (See "WHAT IS ACCRUED
    INTEREST?" in Part B of this Prospectus.)
(2) The Average Maturity of Bonds in the Trust is calculated based upon the stated maturities of the Bonds in the 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 Bonds in the Trust  may increase or decrease from time to time as Bonds mature
    or are called or sold.
(3) Assumes delivery of all Bonds. (See "COMPOSITION OF TRUSTS" appearing in Part B of this Prospectus.) 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 Part B of this Prospectus.)
(4)  The amount and timing of interest distributions from the Trust  under the various plans of distribution are set forth below.
    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. 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.
(5)  Estimated Long Term  Return for the 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 "WHAT ARE ESTIMATED LONG TERM RETURN AND ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN?" in Part B of this Prospectus.
(6) Each Trustee annual fee is  per $1,000 principal amount of  the underlying Bonds in the Trust  for that portion of the  Trust
    that represents a particular plan of distribution.
(7)  The Trust (and therefore Unit holders) will bear all or  a portion of its organizational costs (including costs of preparing
    the registration statements,  the trust  indenture and other  closing documents,  registering Units with  the Securities  and
    Exchange  Commission and states, the initial audit  of each Trust portfolio and the  initial fees and expenses of the trustee
    but not including the expenses incurred in the printing of preliminary prospectuses, and expenses incurred in the preparation
    and printing of borchures  and other advertising materials  and any other  selling expenses) as is  common for mutual  funds.
    Total  organizational expenses will be amortized over a five year  period. See "What are NORMAL TRUST OPERATING EXPENSES?" in
    Part B  and "Statement  of Condition."  Historically, the  sponsors of  unit investment  trusts have  paid all  the costs  of
    establishing such trusts.
</TABLE>
 
                                     2 of 6
<PAGE>
                             INTEREST DISTRIBUTION
 
    Details  of interest  distributions per Unit  of the  National 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
                                                  1995                             1996                  PER YEAR
<S>                                     <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  --------------
Record Date*..........................        8/1           11/1            2/1            5/1
Distribution Date.....................       8/15          11/15           2/15           5/15
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monthly Distribution Plan.............  $        (1)                                                  $
                                                             --------  $ every month  --------
Quarterly Distribution Plan...........  $        (1)   $        (2)   $              $                $
Semi-Annual Distribution Plan.........  $        (1)                  $        (3)                    $
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<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. Distribution Dates under each
   distribution plan are the fifteenth day of the month in which the respective Record Date occurred. For additional  information
   see "WHEN ARE DISTRIBUTIONS MADE TO UNITHOLDERS?" in Part B of this Prospectus.
(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) Regular 3-month distribution.
(3) The second  distribution under the  semi-annual distribution plan  represents a -month  distribution; subsequent  semi-annual
    distributions will be regular 6-month distributions.
</TABLE>
 
   
                       NUVEEN NATIONAL INSURED TRUST 302
                   (NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST SERIES    )
        SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AT DATE OF DEPOSIT,              , 1995
    
 
<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
<C>          <C> <S>                                              <C>                <C>         <C>        <C>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
$         2                                                                                                 $
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
</TABLE>
 
* See  "GENERAL    TRUST   INFORMATION"  in  Part  B of  this  Prospectus  for a
  discussion of  the  characteristics  of  Original  Issue  Discount  Bonds  and
  Stripped Obligations and of the risks associated therewith.
 
                                     3 of 6
<PAGE>
- ------------
 
    (1)  The Sponsor's contracts to purchase Bonds  were entered into on . Other
information regarding the Bonds in the Trust  on the initial Date of Deposit  is
as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             ANNUAL
                                 PROFIT     INTEREST
                    COST TO    (OR LOSS)   INCOME TO   BID PRICE
       TRUST        SPONSOR    TO SPONSOR    TRUST      OF BONDS
  ---------------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
  <S>              <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
  NATIONAL
  INSURED TRUST
  302............  $           $           $           $
</TABLE>
 
In  addition,  the difference  between the  Trustee's determination  of Offering
Price and Bid Price (as a percentage of principal amount) is %. 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.  The Sponsor participated as either  the sole underwriter or manager
or as a member of  the syndicates which were the  original underwriters of %  of
the aggregate principal amount of the 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 specified in the  instruments setting forth the terms
and provisions of such Bonds. See "COMPOSITION OF TRUSTS" and "RISK FACTORS"  in
Part B of this Prospectus.
 
    (3)  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. The insurance obtained by the Trust guarantees the payment of interest  and
principal  on  the  Bonds when  due  but  does not  cover  certain  market risks
associated with fixed income securities  such as accelerated payments,  premiums
payable  on mandatory redemptions or interest rate  risks. (See "WHY AND HOW ARE
THE BONDS INSURED?" in Part B of this Prospectus and "Description of Ratings" in
the Information Supplement.)
 
                                     4 of 6
<PAGE>
                             Statement of Condition
 
                       NUVEEN NATIONAL INSURED TRUST 302
 
                   (Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series    )
 
                          AS OF                 , 1995
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       NATIONAL
                                                       INSURED
    TRUST PROPERTY                                    TRUST 302
                                                    --------------
<S>                                                 <C>
Sponsor's contracts to purchase Tax-Exempt Bonds,
 backed by an irrevocable letter of
 credit(1)(2).....................................  $
Accrued interest to                 , 1995 on
  underlying Bonds(1).............................
Organizational costs(3)...........................
                                                    --------------
            Total.................................  $
                                                    --------------
                                                    --------------
   LIABILITY AND INTEREST OF UNITHOLDERS
LIABILITY:
    Accrued interest to                 , 1995 on
     underlying Bonds(4)..........................  $
Accrued organizational costs(3)...................
                                                    --------------
INTEREST OF UNITHOLDERS:
    Units of fractional undivided interest
     outstanding..................................
      Cost to investors(5)........................  $
        Less: Gross underwriting commission(6)....               ()
                                                    --------------
    Net amount applicable to investors............  $
                                                    --------------
            Total.................................  $
                                                    --------------
                                                    --------------
- ------------
(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 on
    the  Date of Deposit. 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 "Schedule  of Investments"  herein,
    and  their  aggregate cost  to the  Trust  are the  same. Such
    offering  prices  were  determined  by  Kenny  S&P  Evaluation
    Services,  a division of J.J. Kenny Co., Inc., as of the close
    of business on the business day prior to the Date of  Deposit.
    (See "HOW WAS THE PRICE OF THE BONDS DETERMINED AT THE DATE OF
    DEPOSIT?"  in Part  B of this  Prospectus.) Insurance coverage
    providing for the timely payment,  when due, of all  principal
    of  and interest  on the  Bonds in  an Insured  Trust 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) The  Trust  will  bear  all or  a  portion  of  its  estimated
    organizational costs which will be deferred and amortized over
    five years frm the Initial Date of Deposit.
(4)  Representing, as set forth in  "WHAT IS ACCRUED INTEREST?" in
    Part B of this  Prospectus, advancement by  the Trustee of  an
    amount  equal to the  accrued Bond interest as  of the Date of
    Deposit.
(5)  Aggregate  Public  Offering   Price  (exclusive  of   accrued
    interest)  computed  as set  forth  under "HOW  IS  THE PUBLIC
    OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?" in Part B of this Prospectus.
(6) The  gross  underwriting commission  of  4.90% of  the  Public
    Offering  Price has been calculated on the assumption that the
    Units sold are not subject to a reduction of sales charge  for
    quantity purchases. In single transactions involving 500 Units
    or  more, the sales charge is reduced. (See "HOW IS THE PUBLIC
    OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?" in Part B of this Prospectus.)
</TABLE>
 
                                     5 of 6
<PAGE>
                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF JOHN  NUVEEN & CO. INCORPORATED AND UNITHOLDERS  OF
NATIONAL INSURED TRUST 302:
 
    We  have audited the accompanying statement of condition and the schedule of
investments at  date of  deposit (included  in  Part A  of this  Prospectus)  of
National  Insured Trust 302  (contained in Nuveen  Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series
   ), as of                        ,  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   statement  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  statement of  condition and  the related  schedule  of
investments at date of deposit referred to above present fairly, in all material
respects,   the  financial  position  of  National   Insured  Trust  302  as  of
                ,  1995,  in  conformity  with  generally  accepted   accounting
principles.
 
                                                             ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
 
Chicago, Illinois,
                , 1995.
 
                                     6 of 6
<PAGE>
                         NUVEEN  Tax-Exempt Unit Trusts
 
                                   PROSPECTUS
                                  PART B DATED
                                  -----, 1995
 
<TABLE>
<C>                       <S>        <C>
                 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.
<PAGE>
                         NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUSTS
 
                 ---------------------------------------------
 
                             INFORMATION SUPPLEMENT
 
                               NUVEEN SERIES
 
                This   Information  Supplement  provides  additional
            information concerning  the  structure,  operations  and
            risks of a Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust not found in the
            prospectuses for the Trusts. This Information Supplement
            is  not a  prospectus and  does not  include all  of the
            information that a prospective investor should  consider
            before investing in a Trust. This Information Supplement
            should  be read  in conjunction with  the prospectus for
            the Trust in which an investor is considering  investing
            ("Prospectus"). Copies of the Prospectus can be obtained
            by  calling  or  writing the  Trustee  at  the telephone
            number  and  address   indicated  in  Part   A  of   the
            Prospectus.   This   Information  Supplement   has  been
            incorporated by reference into the Prospectus.
 
                This Information Supplement is dated               .
            Capitalized terms have been defined in the Prospectus.
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
               --------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                           <C>
GENERAL RISK DISCLOSURE.....................................................           2
  Health Facility Obligations...............................................           2
  Housing Obligations.......................................................           2
  Single Family Mortgage Revenue Bonds......................................           2
  Federally Enhanced Obligations............................................           3
  Industrial Revenue Obligations............................................           3
  Electric Utility Obligations..............................................           3
  Transportation Facility Revenue Bonds.....................................           4
  Water and/or Sewerage Obligations.........................................           4
  University and College Revenue Obligations................................           4
  Bridge Authority and Tollroad Obligations.................................           4
  Dedicated-Tax Supported Bonds.............................................           4
  Municipal Lease Bonds.....................................................           5
  Original Issue Discount Bonds and Stripped Obligations....................           5
WHY AND HOW ARE THE BONDS INSURED?..........................................           6
HOW IS THE PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?................................           8
ACCUMULATION PLAN...........................................................           8
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPONSOR...............................................          11
DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS......................................................          12
Appendix A -- National Disclosure...........................................         A-1
</TABLE>
 
<PAGE>
GENERAL RISK DISCLOSURE
 
    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 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
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
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  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 future demand  for
electricity  in certain areas of the  country, the limitations on operations and
increased costs and delays
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
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  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
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
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 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
"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 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.
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
WHY AND HOW ARE THE BONDS INSURED?
 
   
INSURANCE ON BONDS
    
 
   
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 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 December  31, 1993  the Insurer had  admitted assets  of $3.1  billion
(audited),  total liabilities of  $2.1 billion (audited),  and total capital and
surplus of  $978  million  (audited) 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
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
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>
 
   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.
 
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
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
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  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.
 
   
HOW IS THE PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?
    
 
   
SECONDARY  MARKET  SALES  CHARGE--The sales  charge  assessed on  Units  sold in
secondary market transactions  is determined  in accordance with  the table  set
forth  below based upon  the number of  years remaining to  the maturity of each
such Bond. 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>
                                                                    $50,000     $100,000     $250,000     $500,000     $1,000,000
                                                        UNDER         TO           TO           TO           TO            TO
YEARS TO MATURITY                                      $50,000      $99,999     $249,999     $499,999     $999,999     $2,499,999
- ---------------------------------------------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -------------
Less than 1........................................           0            0            0            0            0             0
1 but less than 2..................................       1.523%       1.446%       1.369%       1.317%       1.215%        1.061%
2 but less than 3..................................       2.041        1.937        1.833        1.729        1.626         1.420
3 but less than 4..................................       2.564        2.433        2.302        2.175        2.041         1.781
4 but less than 5..................................       3.093        2.961        2.828        2.617        2.459         2.175
5 but less than 7..................................       3.627        3.433        3.239        3.093        2.881         2.460
7 but less than 10.................................       4.167        3.951        3.734        3.520        3.239         2.828
10 but less than 13................................       4.712        4.467        4.221        4.004        3.788         3.253
13 but less than 16................................       5.263        4.988        4.712        4.439        4.167         3.627
16 or more.........................................       5.820        5.542        5.263        4.987        4.603         4.004
 
<CAPTION>
 
<S>                                                  <C>            <C>
                                                      $2,500,000
                                                          TO         $5,000,000
YEARS TO MATURITY                                     $4,999,999       OR MORE
- ---------------------------------------------------  -------------  -------------
Less than 1........................................            0              0
1 but less than 2..................................         .900%          .750%
2 but less than 3..................................        1.225          1.030
3 but less than 4..................................        1.546          1.310
4 but less than 5..................................        1.883          1.590
5 but less than 7..................................        2.165          1.870
7 but less than 10.................................        2.489          2.150
10 but less than 13................................        2.842          2.430
13 but less than 16................................        3.169          2.710
16 or more.........................................        3.500          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). 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.
 
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
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
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 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  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
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
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.
 
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.
 
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
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
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 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
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
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.
 
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.
 
    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.
 
- ----------
*As published by the rating companies.
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
    A Standard  & Poor'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.
 
    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.
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
                                   APPENDIX A
                              NATIONAL DISCLOSURE
 
NATIONALLY DIVERSIFIED TRUST TAXABLE ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN TABLE
(NATIONAL INSURED TRUST)
 
    The  following tables show the approximate taxable estimated current returns
for individuals  that are  equivalent to  tax-exempt estimated  current  returns
under  published  1994  marginal  Federal  tax  rates.  The  tables  incorporate
increased tax  rates for  higher-income tax  payers that  were included  in  the
Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1993. 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  income
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.
 
  MARGINAL FEDERAL TAX RATES FOR JOINT TAXPAYERS WITH FOUR PERSONAL EXEMPTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED
    TAXABLE        GROSS                                   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- 38.0 $     0-111.8      15.0   %     5.59    5.88    6.18    6.47    6.76    7.06    7.35    7.65
    38.0- 91.9       0-111.8      28.0         6.60    6.94    7.29    7.64    7.99    8.33    8.68    9.03
                 111.8-167.7      29.0         6.69    7.04    7.39    7.75    8.10    8.45    8.80    9.15
    91.9-140.0       0-111.8      31.0         6.88    7.25    7.61    7.97    8.33    8.70    9.06    9.42
                 111.8-167.7      32.0         6.99    7.35    7.72    8.09    8.46    8.82    9.19    9.56
                 167.7-290.2      34.5         7.25    7.63    8.02    8.40    8.78    9.16    9.54    9.92
   140.0-250.0   111.8-167.7      37.0         7.54    7.94    8.33    8.73    9.13    9.52    9.92   10.32
                 167.7-290.2      40.0         7.92    8.33    8.75    9.17    9.58   10.00   10.42   10.83
                  Over 290.2      37.0   2     7.54    7.94    8.33    8.73    9.13    9.52    9.92   10.32
    Over 250.0   167.7-290.2      44.0         8.48    8.93    9.38    9.82   10.27   10.71   11.16   11.61
                  Over 290.2      41.0   3     8.05    8.47    8.90    9.32    9.75   10.17   10.59   11.02
</TABLE>
 
  MARGINAL FEDERAL TAX RATES FOR SINGLE TAXPAYERS WITH ONE PERSONAL EXEMPTION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED
    TAXABLE        GROSS                                   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- 22.8 $     0-111.8      15.0   %     5.59    5.88    6.18    6.47    6.76    7.06    7.35    7.65
    22.8- 55.1       0-111.8      28.0         6.60    6.94    7.29    7.64    7.99    8.33    8.68    9.03
    55.1-115.0       0-111.8      31.0         6.88    7.25    7.61    7.97    8.33    8.70    9.06    9.42
                 111.8-234.3      32.5         7.04    7.41    7.78    8.15    8.52    8.89    9.26    9.63
   115.0-250.0   111.8-234.3      38.0         7.66    8.06    8.47    8.87    9.27    9.68   10.08   10.48
                  Over 234.3      37.0   2     7.54    7.94    8.33    8.73    9.13    9.52    9.92   10.32
    Over 250.0    Over 234.3      41.0   3     8.05    8.47    8.90    9.32    9.75   10.17   10.59   11.02
<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-1

<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 817

                             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 817, 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 7/11/95.
 

                               NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST, SERIES 817
                                  (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))
                                                      )
                                                      )7/11/95

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------


*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).

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*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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