Academic Hall, Educational building in Francis Quadrangle, Missouri, US.
Academic Hall was the University of Missouri's main building, featuring a three-story central section topped with a dome and flanked by two wings, constructed from locally made bricks and limestone columns. The structure dominated Francis Quadrangle until a fire destroyed it in 1892, leaving only its iconic columns standing.
Dedicated in 1843, Academic Hall served as the cornerstone of the University of Missouri until an electrical fire destroyed it in 1892. This disaster forced the university to rebuild and reshape its campus, marking a pivotal moment in its institutional development.
The six Ionic columns that remain on Francis Quadrangle are a visual reminder of the University of Missouri's founding era and academic roots. Visitors often pause at these relics to reflect on the institution's early years and its growth from that original building.
The six surviving columns stand outdoors on Francis Quadrangle and are freely accessible at any time as part of the campus grounds. The University of Missouri Archives provides online resources and historical photographs for visitors interested in learning more about the original building's design and layout.
During the Civil War, Union soldiers used Academic Hall as a military base and held Confederate prisoners in the third-floor library. To conserve fuel for heating, they burned books from the shelves, transforming the academic space into a practical survival resource during wartime.
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