University of Columbia

This is a photo I took of the Columns on campus of the University of Missouri. The domed building in the background is Jesse Hall. That's the building I worked in Tuesday and Wednesday. You probably can't see it but all the flags in front of Jesse Hall are at half-staff in honor of the 32 people (I'm not counting the monster that killed them and himself) that died at Virgina Tech Monday. There was a lot of tension on campus while I was there. On Tuesday their was a shooting not far from the University and that caused some panic. There was also an insentience of an Asian student getting harassed on campus. That prompted a mass email to all staff and students.


The 105-foot dome atop Jesse Hall, if sitting on the ground next to the building, would actually stand taller than the building itself!

Here is info on the columns: The traditional symbol of the University of Missouri-Columbia is the row of six Ionic columns. The Columns once supported the portico of Academic Hall, the first building erected on campus. Academic Hall was built between 1840 and 1843 from plans drawn by A. Stephen Hills, designer of the Missouri State Capitol. It consisted of a domed central section of three stories with two wings and housed both educational and administrative facilities. Brick for the building was fired on campus. Limestone for the Columns was obtained from the nearby Hinkson Creek Valley and was hauled to the building by ox-drawn carts.

On Jan. 9, 1892, Academic Hall was destroyed by fire and the Columns were all that remained. In August 1893 the Board of Curators voted to remove the Columns, considering them not only unsafe but unsightly. However, supporters of the Columns rallied to their defense, and after inspection showed the foundations were safe, the Board voted to retain them in December 1893. Now the Columns stand as a beloved part of MU's campus.