Mears Cottage

Mears Cottage is a university building at Grinnell College originally constructed in 1888 to serve as the first women's dormitory on campus. The structure displays late 19th-century design with study areas and residential spaces that remain central to the campus layout today.

The cottage was constructed in 1888 through funding from Edward A. Goodnow as the first women's dormitory at the college. Its creation marked an important moment in the institution's evolution toward becoming a coeducational campus.

The building stands as a symbol of the college's early commitment to educating women in a region where this was uncommon. Walking past it today, visitors sense the history of female students who lived and studied within these walls.

The building can be viewed from outside as part of a campus walk and shows details of its late 19th-century construction. Since the interior now houses administrative offices, visitors should plan their visit around the college's regular business hours.

The building was among the first on campus to receive electric lighting during the 1890s, a sign of the institution's forward-thinking approach. This early adoption of modern technology reflected the college's commitment to providing safe and comfortable spaces for its students.