Caldwell Hall, Historical university building at Catholic University of America, Washington DC, United States.
Caldwell Hall is a large brick building at Catholic University of America with multiple wings containing student housing, a chapel, administrative offices, and classrooms. The structure accommodates roughly 40 upper-level students in the dormitory section alongside separate quarters for religious staff.
The building was dedicated in 1888 by Cardinal James Gibbons and President Grover Cleveland, marking a major moment for Catholic higher education at the time. The cornerstone holds a letter from Pope Leo XIII from 1887 approving the university's founding.
The building functions as a learning center for canon law and theology students who study within its spaces daily. This academic mission has shaped the building since its opening and makes it a working hub for religious education.
The building sits on the university campus in Northeast Washington and can be viewed by visitors who check in at the main gates. Since it functions as an active academic space, guided tours can be arranged through the university visitor center if you plan ahead.
The cornerstone holds a personal letter from Pope Leo XIII approving the university's founding, making it a tangible link to papal authority. This direct connection was remarkable for an American institution in the 1800s.
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