Spooner Hall

Spooner Hall is a university building at the University of Kansas featuring Romanesque Revival architecture with gray Oread limestone blocks and red Dakota sandstone accents on its exterior. The structure now functions as a conference center hosting meetings, workshops, lectures, and exhibitions across sciences, arts, and humanities.

William Spooner funded construction of this building in 1893 as the first library of the University of Kansas as a gift for his nephew, Chancellor Francis Snow. It has remained on campus ever since, becoming part of the institution's foundational architecture.

The building transitioned from a library to an art museum in 1926 and now displays works from the Sallie Casey Thayer collection featuring ceramics, textiles, and Asian paintings. This shift in purpose continues to shape how people experience and value the space today.

The building is easily accessible and located in the heart of campus, where visitors can explore the spaces during open hours. Navigation is straightforward as the structure serves as a well-known hub for conferences and cultural events.

A carved stone owl perches at the peak of the western gable, watching over the steep clay-tiled roof of the structure. This unusual ornament is a detail many visitors overlook, though it gives the roof a distinctive character.

Location: Lawrence

GPS coordinates: 38.95830,-95.24670

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:01