This aerial photo (circa-1926) shows the University of Nebraska as growth carried it outside of the original core of four city blocks.
The transition into the early 1900s sent the University of Nebraska expanding beyond its original four-square block plat.
Official construction outside the original fenced campus started in 1906 with the Temple Building (not shown above) — though the Conservatory of Music (see below) could be counted as the first Nebraska U building beyond the initial border.
Between 1910 and 1925, the university added eight new buildings on City Campus — the old Law College (now part of Architecture Hall); Bessey Hall; Avery Hall; Social Sciences Hall (Pound Hall); old Teachers College; Ellen Smith Hall; Memorial Stadium; and the Coliseum — all outside the initial campus boundary. East Campus also grew quickly in the same 15-year span, adding the Dairy Industry Building (now Filley Hall), a horse barn, Chase Hall, Animal Pathology and Hygiene Complex, Beef Cattle Barn and a replacement for the first Dairy Barn. The College Activities Building — now part of the Rec and Wellness Center on East Campus — was added in 1926, which is believed to be the same year as the photo above.
Original four-block campus
Archives and Special Collections
The original University of Nebraska campus was four city blocks, framed by 10th, 12th, R and T streets. Buildings shown in this image from circa-1926 are: 1. University Hall (with top floors removed); 2. the original library (now Architecture Hall); 3. old Law College (also part of Architecture Hall today); 4. Brace Laboratory of Physics; 5. Mechanical Engineering Laboratories (Richards Hall); 6. Electrical Engineering building; 7. Mechanical Arts (Stout Hall); 8. old Nebraska Hall (with top floors removed); 9. the first natural history museum; 10. Grant Memorial Hall; 11. Chemistry Laboratory; and 12. old Administration Building.
Third field was the charm
Archives and Special Collections
Memorial Stadium (1) was the third location for Nebraska's football field. It was first located north of Brace Labs (where Richards Hall is today), then ran from east to west on the west side of Avery Hall (2). Memorial Stadium opened in 1923. Avery was initially known as the new Chemistry Laboratory when it opened in 1916 and replaced the 1885 Chemistry Laboratory.
Around the loop
Archives and Special Collections
Some of the first buildings constructed around what is today the loop road on the east side of Memorial Stadium were: 1. Coliseum (1925); 2. Bessey Hall (1916); and 3. Morrill Hall (which opened in 1927 and is shown here under construction).
Music, social sciences and teaching
Archives and Special Collections
Though it wasn't university property until 1930, the Conservatory of Music (1) could be considered the first campus building located outside the initial four-block design. The music program was self-supporting in 1892 and had a semi-official relationship with the university. Willard Kimball directed the program, raised funds to build the building without tax dollars, and hired teachers. These instructors received NU appointments but received no pay from the university. Students took standard university courses, but paid extra fees for music instruction. Kimball incorporated the business around 1900 and renamed it the University School of Music. The school became less financially stable due to the economic depression and the NU Board of Regents purchased the building in 1930. The structure served as the home for music until Westbrook Music Building opened in the 1960s. Also pictured is (2) Social Sciences Hall, which became College of Business Administration and is now Pound Hall; and old Teachers College.
Additional details about campus buildings through 1965 is available on the “Architectural Tour of Historic UNL” website](http://historicbuildings.unl.edu/), which was created by Nebraska’s Kay Logan-Peters.
Editor’s Note — Information about this photo was provided by Kay Logan-Peters, professor of libraries; the Architectural Tour of UNL website, and “Prairie University” by Robert Knoll.
