Woodburn Hall - WVU - Black and White
by Susan Rissi Tregoning
Title
Woodburn Hall - WVU - Black and White
Artist
Susan Rissi Tregoning
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
This is the lesser photographed but more commonly viewed backside of West Virginia University’s Woodburn Hall. Passing through Morgantown, the Hall can be seen towering high above the city from the mountainside near the town center.
West Virginia University was established in 1867 through the Morrill Land-Grant College Act, which allowed the state to purchase land in Monongalia County, including the Monongalia Academy and Woodburn Female Seminary properties. After a fire destroyed the original Woodburn Female Seminary building in 1873, esteemed Morgantown architect Forrest Jacobs designed this building in the Second Empire architectural style. It was constructed over 37 years, the building at its center was built from 1874-1876 for $41,500. The north wing was added in 1900, and the south wing in 1911. Initially named New Hall, it was renamed University Hall before finally changing to Woodburn Hall in honor of Morgantown’s first school for girls in 1902.
Today, Woodburn Hall is undeniably the heart of West Virginia University, and its clock tower is the University’s iconic symbol.
Woodburn Hall was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
Copyright 2023 Susan Rissi Tregoning
Uploaded
August 22nd, 2023
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