Main Building (Vassar College)

Old Main, Vassar College
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
Building in 2007, seen from near the entrance to campus
Location	Poughkeepsie, New York
Built	1861
Architect	James Renwick, Jr.
Architectural style	Second Empire
NRHP reference No.	73001183
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	September 19, 1973
Designated NHL	June 24, 1986

Main Building is on the Vassar College campus in Poughkeepsie, New York. It was built by James Renwick, Jr. in the Second Empire style in 1861, the second building in the history of what was one of America's first women's colleges. It is one of the earliest, largest, and most important examples examples of Second Empire architecture in the United States and is a National Historic Landmark. At the time of its completion, the structure contained the most interior space of any building in the United States, and housed the entire college, including dormitories, libraries, classrooms, and dining halls. Currently, the first and second floors house campus administration while the remaining three (including the second floor wings) house student rooms.

It was taken over by protesters in 1969 and again in 1990.

It was named a National Historic Landmark in 1986. The Vassar Observatory, the first building built on the Vassar campus, is also a National Historic Landmark.

See also

• List of National Historic Landmarks in New York
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Poughkeepsie, New York

External links

• Main Building (1865), at Vassar Encyclopedia
• Vassar College panoramic tour — Select Residential from the righthand column, then Main House, or Bell Ringing, Retreat in the College Center, and Rose Parlor from the Student Life tab.