Campus

Dearborn Observatory

A series of circumstances delivered Northwestern an observatory lens originally created for the University of Mississippi and used by the original University of Chicago.

Dry Evanston

For more than a century, the sale of alcohol was prohibited on campus and in Evanston. Learn about the amendment that prohibited alcohol sales and how it was repealed in 1975.

From Rugged Terrain to Campus and Community

What began as unincorporated farm and swampland in the 1850s became the Northwestern campus and the city of Evanston, which now has a population of more than 74,000.

When the campus began to outgrow its land holdings, it expanded eastward into Lake Michigan. The submerged lake land made room for the construction of the University Library, Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, Henry Crown Sports Pavilion, and other facilities.

Northwestern’s Evolving Playing Fields

At the turn of the 20th century, attempts to regulate college athletics led to the creation of playing facilities. Learn about the creation of Northwestern’s earliest facilities, such as Sheppard Field, as well as more recent ones, like the Combe Tennis Center.

Residential Colleges

Northwestern’s 11 residential colleges were an attempt to form smaller intellectual communities within the University. Today, the residential colleges are focused on diverse academic subjects that range from public affairs to the creative arts.

Shakespeare Garden

In 1915, the Garden Club of Evanston established Northwestern’s Shakespeare Garden to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the Bard’s birth. The garden’s flowers, herbs, and shrubs are all mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays.

University Hall

This high gothic building was completed in 1869, making it the oldest building on campus. Originally used for all University classes, University Hall now houses the English Department, faculty offices, the Undergraduate Program Center, and “smart” classrooms.