If you have an hour to kill while visiting your student, take the time to explore North Campus. We recommend you start at the intersection of Broad Street and College Avenue. As you face south, you’ll see the expansive lawn stretching beneath large oak trees and historic campus buildings.
The Arch
With its cast-iron structure and three pillars, this landmark is hard to miss. Each pillar represents one of UGA’s founding principles: wisdom, justice and moderation. While it’s now the symbol of UGA, its origins are more practical: The Arch initially served as a gate between North Campus and Broad Street to keep cattle from grazing on the college lawn. Campus Legend: If an undergraduate walks beneath the Arch, they will not graduate.
Holmes-Hunter Academic Building
The large, ornate columned building on your right will be hard to miss. It currently houses the office of the registrar. This building was renamed in 2001 in honor of Hamilton Holmes and Charlayne Hunter-Gault, the students who integrated UGA in 1961.
Dueling Debaters
As you walk past Holmes-Hunter and onto the lawn, pause for a moment when reaching Demosthenian Hall. Directly across the quad is Phi Kappa Hall. Founded in the 19th century, these buildings have hosted a centuries-old rivalry between debate societies. Campus Legend: Demosthenian Hall is supposedly haunted by the ghost of the infamous Robert Toombs, a 19th century UGA student who was expelled.
The Chapel Bell
After pausing to appreciate the debate history, continue walking until you reach the UGA Chapel with its striking painted-white exterior and its six Doric columns. You can also walk behind the Chapel to the Chapel Bell. Students today ring the bell after both school-wide and personal victories, like football wins or acing an exam. The bell used to sit in a tower on top of the building, but in 1913 it was relocated behind the Chapel because wood rot damaged the tower.
Moore College
After you’ve taken a peek at the Chapel Bell, walk down steps on either side toward the large, elegant building on your right. Moore College currently houses UGA’s Honors College. Built from 1874 to 1876, the building is UGA’s sole example of Second Empire architecture, characterized by the mansard roof.
Herty Field
The large expanse next to Moore College is Herty Field, where Georgia played its first official football game in 1892. (Georgia beat Mercer University 50-0.) Home games were played on Herty Field until 1911. The fountain in the center of the field is a popular photo spot.
Old College
Continue walking, and you’ll soon be face-to-face with UGA’s oldest remaining structure. Just look for the statue of UGA’s founder, Abraham Baldwin, in front of the building. Old College was built in 1806. The building has housed classrooms, a dormitory, dining facilities and even a World War II training program for the U.S. Navy.
Main Library
UGA’s Main Library has seven floors filled with primary sources and scholarly works. From the top floor, you have a great view of campus and the surrounding countryside.
Jackson Street Cemetery
Across the street, you will find this cemetery, which in 2009 was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The cemetery contains 800 grave spaces that include two former UGA presidents. Renovations in 2015 at nearby Baldwin Hall uncovered an additional 105 grave spaces with remains of possible enslaved or formerly enslaved people. Since the discovery, UGA commemorated those Athenians and other enslaved individuals with the Baldwin Hall memorial on campus.
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