With the purchase of the Hill in 1826, our institution began building and expanding. Here are the 10 oldest buildings that are still standing on campus today. Read more about the history of the university on our historic timeline.
1872
South College
1879
Cowan Cottage
1881
Carriage House
1895
Tyson Alumni House
1908
Facilities Services Complex
1911
Austin Peay Memorial Building
1920
Ceramics Annex
1921
Ayres Hall
1921
Hopecote House
1921
Morgan Hall
Enjoy learning more about campus locations with our historic walking tour.
This story is part of the University of Tennessee’s 225th anniversary celebration. Volunteers light the way for others across Tennessee and throughout the world.
6 comments
I LOVE MY UNDERGRADUATE ALMA MATER!
I met and married my college sweetheart in 1978.
It’s humorous when UTK pretends to care about architectural historic preservation!
Except for two or three exceptions, UT has done a well in maintaining its collegiate architecture style. I was a student there from 1957 until 1964 and still feel “at home” when I can get to Knoxville to visit.
When I was in graduate school, I used to stay in Hopecote House when the resident caretaker went on vacation – it was like sleeping in a doll’s house in a fairy tale. I always looked forward to staying in that very special place.
July 2023
A previous post called Ayres “a beacon for us all”. I first entered the university in the fall of ’71 and yes the heat could be overwhelming in the 2nd floor math classes. The eroded steps with scooped terrazzo depressions bore decades of volunteers trudging up the identical places I traveled. Outside the rear west entrance at ground level was a Norway Maple directly opposite the door. That fall several of my high school classmates would congregate not by design, but shear happenstance. The tree provided the needed respite from the heat, but even more we few recent high school graduates would connect and for one quarter the 30,000 plus student enrollment wasn’t a daunting, frighting statistic. I live in Florida and visit the property I own in Knoxville several times a year. I just returned and while there I drove to the hill. The renovations’ digging around the base of the tree is taking a toll on the health of the ol’ maple. Just a few thoughts and memories from a ’79 UT grad. Warm Regards… Mike