Eleutherian College, National Historic Landmark college in Lancaster, Indiana.
Eleutherian College is a three-story limestone structure in Lancaster featuring a bell tower above its entrance and a chapel with six tall windows on the first floor. The building has been restored and now serves as a museum preserving the institution's educational legacy.
The college was established in 1848 as Eleutherian Institute, operating during a period when it boldly offered education to students regardless of race or gender. This mission made it one of the earliest educational institutions to embrace such inclusive practices before the Civil War.
The building stands as a symbol of the institution's early mission to offer learning opportunities to people of all backgrounds without restriction.
The property operates as a museum with guided tours available through Historic Eleutherian College Inc., which manages the site and provides access to visitors. Tours allow you to see the interior spaces and learn about the building's original use and restoration.
During the 1850s, a significant portion of the student body consisted of African American individuals, positioning the school as a pioneering institution for integrated education. This openness to diversity was striking for the era and set it apart from contemporaneous educational practices.
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