Vassar College, Liberal arts college in Poughkeepsie, United States.
Vassar College is a private liberal arts institution in Poughkeepsie, New York, enrolling around 2,400 students. The campus spans roughly 1,000 acres (405 hectares) and includes an arboretum with more than 200 tree species, along with academic buildings in Collegiate Gothic and International styles scattered among lawns, ponds and maintained paths.
Matthew Vassar founded the institution in 1861 as one of the first in the United States to grant degrees to women. Coeducation began in 1969, opening enrollment to men and fundamentally changing the original model.
Students organize lectures, concerts and theater performances that visitors can attend when on campus. The art center hosts rotating exhibitions that form part of the teaching program while remaining open to guests interested in contemporary or historical works.
The campus is open for walking during daytime, and visitors can explore the arboretum along marked paths or view the exterior of academic buildings. The art center allows access to its collection during opening hours, and staff at the entrance can advise on current exhibitions.
The Main Building held the title of largest structure in the United States when completed in 1861, retaining that status until the Capitol extension finished in 1868. Today it houses student residences, administrative offices and a large dining hall with a vaulted ceiling used by students and guests alike.
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