Elmira College Old Campus, Educational historic district in Elmira, United States.
Elmira College Old Campus is a historic site in New York with multiple Victorian and Gothic buildings dating from the 1800s. The grounds contain eight principal structures including Cowles Hall, Hamilton House, and Carnegie Science Hall that together shape the character of the complex.
The college was founded in 1855 and was the first institution in the United States to grant women degrees with full academic standing. This founding marked a turning point in the history of women's education in America.
The Mark Twain Study on campus shows where the writer worked and completed several of his major works during his time in Elmira. The place connects the college's story directly with important American literature from the 1800s.
The grounds are easily explored on foot, with buildings arranged along a natural walking route. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes since there is regular elevation change between the different structures.
The original Cowles Hall has an unusual octagonal shape that served multiple purposes when completed in 1855. The building functioned simultaneously as a dormitory, dining room, and classroom for the college's early students.
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