Washington University Hilltop Campus Historic District

Washington University Hilltop Campus Historic District
Location St. Louis, Missouri
Coordinates 38°38′54″N 90°18′35″W / 38.64833°N 90.30972°W / 38.64833; -90.30972Coordinates: 38°38′54″N 90°18′35″W / 38.64833°N 90.30972°W / 38.64833; -90.30972
Built 1900
Architect Jamieson & Spearl; Et al.
Architectural style Late Gothic Revival, Other
NRHP Reference # 79003636
Significant dates
Added to NRHP January 12, 1979[1]
Designated NHLD February 27, 1987[2]

The Washington University Hilltop Campus Historic District was the site of the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition and the 1904 Summer Olympics. Many of the exposition buildings were temporary in nature, but a number of permanent structures were built and are used by Washington University, which calls this area the Danforth Campus. The district includes more than fifty structures, of which twenty are in the Collegiate Gothic style.[3]

The overall plan for the Washington University campus was conceived by Frederick Law Olmsted, and a national competition was held in 1899 for the new buildings. Cope and Stevenson of Philadelphia was the winning firm, drawing on experience gained at Bryn Mawr College, the University of Pennsylvania and Princeton University. As construction proceeded, plans for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition incorporated the new buildings, leasing the campus and providing funding for more buildings.

The Collegiate Gothic structures form a unified composition, despite their construction over a fifty-year period. This is attributed to a style guide compiled by architect James P. Jamieson, who defined the use of red granite, green slate shingles and copper flashing and drainage details. Windows are set in limestone surrounds. Buildings are typically sited around a quadrangle that forms a high point, so that the building elevations facing the quad are two stories, while the rear elevations are three stories. Plans are standardized with many buildings using an elongated H-shaped plan with a central tower of three to five stories.[3]

University buildings included:

Later compatible additions include McMillan Hall (1906), Graham Chapel (1907), Newton R. Wilson Memorial Hall (1923), Duncker Hall (1923), Grace Vallé January Hall (1923), Charles Rebstock Hall (1926), the Ann W. Olin Women's Building (1927), Wayman Crow Hall (1933), George Warren Brown Memorial Hall (1935), the Sever Institute of Technology (1948) and Louderman Hall (1951).[3]

Other buildings constructed for the Exposition include:

References

  1. National Park Service (2008-04-15). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. "Washington University Hilltop Campus Historic District". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved 2008-04-25.
  3. 1 2 3 Charleton, James H. (October 1985). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved 2009-04-24.
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