Old Main (1876)

When Old Main was built, there were no buildings or trees nearby - only grasses and cacti. What the founders imagined around Old Main was a beautiful park, which included fountains statues, beds of flowers, a large pagoda, a lake, and a large vegetable garden.

Circling the building would be winding carriage drives lined with trees - perfect for strolling. However, the plans for the campus changed over the years, with more and more buildings constructed where the pagodas and statues were planned.

At first, the University could barely fill Old Main. However, the building was soon bursting with a library, the cabinets which were the beginning of a museum, collections of highly prized laboratory instruments, more faculty members, and more classes.

Although plans were made to made to demolish Old Main in the 1920s, a full structural renovation was made instead. In the 1980s it was refurbished from top - to - bottom. An elevator was installed, the old chapel was charmingly restored, and the CU Heritage Center was opened on the third floor.






Old Main