The University of Georgia is founded in 1785 as the United States' first state-chartered university.
Old College, the first permanent structure on campus, opens with classroom, dining and dormitory space with rent set at $1 per quarter. In fitting tribute to Benjamin Franklin, the neglected namesake of the building, the current tenant is the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences.
New College opens as a mix of dormitory, library and classroom building.
1823New College burns to the ground - the first building fire in the City of Athens. It is rebuilt two years later.
1830The first campus live-on requirement is instituted by UGA’s President.
1850Room and board starts at $114 per year.
1860The university closes because of the Civil War. Campus buildings are utilized for Confederate soldiers, Union prisoners and civilian refugees.
1863The University of Georgia reopens.
1866Old College has deteriorated so badly students are allowed to live rent free.
1893Candler Hall is constructed as a male dormitory and is now home to the School of Public and International Affairs. Candler Hall sits on historic Herty Field, location of the University of Georgia's first football game (a win over Mercer) in 1892.
The descendants of Gov. Lumpkin donated to UGA a sizable portion of land south of the ravine in which Sanford Stadium now sits. Among the conditions of the donation was the provision that the Lumpkin House—used as a men’s dormitory until 1932—remain intact at its current location in perpetuity. Any attempt to remove or demolish the house will result in a large section of today’s South Campus being returned to the heirs of the Lumpkin family.
Old College narrowly avoids scheduled demolition when $10,000 is raised for refurbishment.
1908Soule Hall opens to become the first residence hall for females on campus. Originally there was a swimming pool in the basement and its east balcony overlooked an amphitheater, now occupied by the Boyd Graduate Building and the Science Library.
Milledge Hall opens to house students. It is now home to the Division of Academic Enhancement and Tutorial Services.
Camp Watkins is constructed by Forestry Students. A 30’x12’ cabin stood near the site of Lake Herrick until 1956.
Memorial Hall opens after nearly 15 years of intermittent construction to house male students, the athletic department, meeting and event space, and dining. It is now home to the Division of Student Affairs, of which University Housing is a part.
Mary Lyndon Hall is built as a “homey” 18th century-style home to accommodate females.
Rutherford Hall opens as the third all-female residence hall. It is torn down in 2012, but the new hall incorporates elements of the old, such as carriage lights, ironwork and original fireplace mantles.
Milledge Annex, now known as Payne Hall, opens. It was completely rennovated during the summer of 2006.
Fain, Dudley and Griggs Halls open to male veterinary and agriculture students.
1942Boom Town - A mix of trailers and prefabricated bungalows are set up on Ag Hill to accommodate the tremendous increase in enrollment.
1946Myers Hall opens.
Reed Hall opens.
Morris Hall opens to graduate and law students. Currently, it is home to males and females first-year students.
Boggs, Church, Hill, Lipscomb and Mell (known as the lower five because of their position at the bottom of Baxter) and Tucker Halls open.
1961Charlayne Hunter becomes the first African-American student to live on campus (Myers Hall).
University Housing officially begins operating as a department. Creswell Hall opens UGA’s first high-rise residence hall.
University Village construction begins and buildings open incrementally.
Brumby Hall opens as a “luxury” residence hall for females. Brumby remained all-female until 2013.
Russell Hall opens.
The original McWhorter Hall opens to house student athletes. It was torn down in 2005, and a new residence hall now bears its name.
1967The curfew for females is abolished. Currently, there is no curfew for residents but two different visitation designations are available, depending on hall.
1968Rogers Road apartments open to house graduate students and families.
University Housing acquires Oglethorpe House and pool, built in 1965. The pool was later filled in to accommodate the expansion of Oglethorpe Dining Commons.
Security card access system is installed in residence halls.
1986University Housing acquires Brandon Oaks apartments, now a part of University Village Housing.
Smoking is banned in residence halls. In 2014, all tobacco use is banned on UGA’s campus.
2000The University of Georgia institutes a first-year live-on requirement for freshmen.
Read more 2004East Campus Village (Busbee, McWhorter, Rooker and Vandiver) opens with apartment-style housing geared towards non-first-year students..
Building 1516 opens as the first LEED-Certified Gold residence hall on campus.
New Rutherford hall opens.
Russell Hall opens after a 15-month renovation with increased privacy in community bathrooms, in-room temperature control and a complete update of mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems.
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