Gorgas–Manly Historic District

The Gorgas - Manly Historic District is a historic district in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It covers an area of ​​nearly five acres with eight buildings on the campus of the University of Alabama. These buildings represent the architectural history of the University of the establishment of the entity to the end of the 19th century. Two einbegriffene in the district building, Gorgas House and the Little Round House, are among the seven buildings of the University, who survived the fire on April 4, 1865 the Union troops had placed at the command of Brigadier General John T. Croxton. The other overhanging buildings are the President's Mansion and the Old Observatory as well as some less faculty residences.

Woods Hall was the first building that was built after the Civil War. The other five buildings, Clark, Manly, Garland, Tuomey and Barnard Hall, reflect the construction activity reflected on the campus during the economic recovery period that followed the end of Reconstruction.

The construction of Manly, Clark and Garland Hall and other buildings funded the University by selling a large piece of land, 46,800 acres ( 18,700 hectares), which received the University of the Congress of the United States as compensation "for the fiery destruction that federal troops had brought in 1865 ".

Description of the district

Gorgas House

An early example of the architecture of classicism in Alabama is the Gorgas House, which was the first built on the University campus building. The design of the house by the architect William Nichols, who had planned the original campus of the University as well as the old State Capitol of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. The building was completed in 1829, even before the opening of the campus. The main facade, with the exception of the portico, it reflects the then ongoing influence of the Federal Style. The house was originally used as a guest house for visitors and professors, as well as a dining hall for students, but converted the late 1840s in a faculty building. His current name it after Josiah Gorgas, the seventh president of the University of Alabama. His poor health forced him to resign from his office and the Regents of the University presented him the house as a retreat available. The legislation of the state had in 1944 as a memorial to his family. Today part of the museums of the University of Alabama is housed.

Little Round House

This small octagonal building with battlements originally served as a guardhouse at the University. It was completed in 1860 and illustrates the transformation of the university into a military campus. This conversion was completed on February 23, 1860 by an Act. As tensions between North and South escalated, this step by Landon Garland, the former Präsidente the University, had been proposed. It is ironic that that it's the Little Round House, despite his military -style appearance is one of the few buildings that was not destroyed when the Union troops burned down the campus. When the University was reopened in 1871, the building served as offices for a doctor. Some years later it was in a neglected condition and the demolition was considered. However, the Regents of the University decided to renovate the building and it was converted into a building for archive records. In the 1930s it was known as Jason's Shrine, because it was used by the Jason, a man's honor society. In 1990 the building was converted into a memorial to honor all of these companies.

Woods Hall

Woods Hall was the first new building on the campus after the end of the Civil War. It was built from 1867 to 1868. The four-story brick building has provided a neo-Gothic portico on the ground floor, the side wings are on the eaves with battlements and in the central part of the upper floors are provided with cast-iron galleries. Originally referred to as "the barracks " ( barracks ), it served as a student residence. On the ground floor a dining hall and classrooms were housed. It remained until 1961 a dorm, then it was converted for use by the Department of Art and Art History.

The area between Woods Hall on one side and Woods, Clark and Manly Hall on the other side is called Woods Quad and is the venue for the closing ceremonies of the School of Liberal Arts.

Clark Hall

Built in 1884 in Neo-Gothic style Clark Hall was built on the site of the destroyed during the Civil War the old Lyceum. Clark Hall was originally a multi-purpose building with a library, reading rooms, a chapel and a large meeting room, which was the largest public space of the university. Around 1910, the building began to decay and the brick walls threatened to collapse due to the weight of the heavy roof. The building was secured by withholding a steel frame inside, so it was retained. In the 1980s, it was renovated again. It was named after Willis G. Clark, a former Board member of the University.

Clark Hall now contains most of the offices of the School of Liberal Arts, as well as a currently led by Cornelius Carter Dance Studio.

Manly Hall

Manly Hall is a three and a half floors scoring neo-Gothic building of red bricks. The appearance of the building is similar in design as Clark Hall; it was completed in 1885 and originally served as a dormitory. Today, the Department of Religious Studies, the Department of Women's Studies, offices of the Departments of English language and the offices of the literary magazine Black Warrior Review therein are housed. The building bears the name of Basil Manly, the second president of the University.

Garland Hall

The three -storey Garland Hall is a neo-Gothic building. It was formed in 1887 to a dorm and the original accommodate Alabama Museum of Natural History. It is the counterpart to Manly Hall and now houses the Sarah Moody Gallery of Art

Tuomey Hall

The two-storey Tuomey Hall, now known as the Blount Undergraduate Initiative Tuomey Academic House, was completed in 1889. It served as a laboratory building for the Department of Chemistry and bears the name of Michael Tuomey, a geologist and professor.

Barnard Hall

The two and a half storey Barnard Hall, now known as the Oliver - Barnard Hall, was also completed in 1889. Originally built to house a laboratory and sports facilities, are now in offices and classrooms of the College of Arts and Sciences. It was named after the scientist and professor, Frederick AP Barnard. In 2000 it was renamed the Oliver - Barnard Hall to honor the Emeritus Board Member John T. Oliver Jr..