Boston College Main Campus Historic District

Boston College Main Campus Historic District comprises six Gothic Revival stone buildings arranged around the central Gasson Hall, featuring pointed arches and vaulted ceilings throughout. Designed beginning in 1909 by Charles Donagh Maginnis, they form a cohesive group of this architectural style on the Massachusetts campus.

Construction of the complex began in 1909 under architect Charles Donagh Maginnis, drawing on European Gothic models for the growing educational institution. Recognition on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990 confirmed its architectural and cultural significance to American higher education history.

These buildings express how a Catholic education institution chose to represent its values through architecture and design choices. Today visitors can observe how these structures still shape the daily life and character of the campus community.

The site is located along Commonwealth Avenue and is accessible to pedestrians, with guided tours available to explain the buildings and their architectural features. Note that portions remain in active academic use, so access to some buildings may be limited at certain times.

The buildings were constructed using local granite from the Massachusetts area, giving their facades a distinctive warm gray-brown tone. This material choice creates a visual link between the university architecture and the natural stone landscape of the region.