#buildings

West Side Row: Vanderbilt’s First Dormitory

Written by Elizabeth Mosiman When Vanderbilt University first opened in 1875, students lived in university-approved boarding houses near campus. The closest the university came to having a dormitory was Wesley Hall – a former boarding house – which served multiple purposes: housing faculty and divinity students; providing classroom space for lectures; and serving as a… Keep reading

Mechanical Engineering Hall: Teaching Engineering in the Age of Steam

A new exhibition highlighting the history of Mechanical Engineering Hall is now on display in the Special Collections Library.    When Vanderbilt University opened in October 1875, classes and laboratories were all housed in College Hall, now known as Kirkland Hall.  By the mid-1880s, the engineering department had outgrown their facilities in College Hall and… Keep reading