Jesse Hall is the main administration building for the University of Missouri

University of Missouri

The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...

. Built in 1893 after Academic Hall

Academic Hall

Academic Hall was the original main building of the University of Missouri. It was dedicated in 1843 and destroyed by fire in 1892. Academic Hall's six Ionic columns stand as the most recognizable symbol of the University of Missouri.- History :...

 burned to the ground, the building is one of the major symbols of the University. It is located at the south end of the David R. Francis Quadrangle

David R. Francis Quadrangle

David R. Francis Quadrangle is the historical center of the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. It is named after Missouri governor David R. Francis, and is often simply called "The Quad." Within the quad are two of the most recognizable symbols of the school, Jesse Hall and The Columns...

, often called simply "The Quad." Jesse Auditorium, a popular entertainment venue for touring acts, is located at the east end of the hall.

History

Academic Hall burned on 9 January 1892, leaving only the famous six columns that now stand in the center of Francis Quadrangle. The fire was ignited by an electric chandelier in the meeting room, the forerunner of Jesse Auditorium, during a debate.

The "New Academic Hall", just south of the columns, was completed in 1895 at a cost of $250,000. In 1922, the hall was renamed in honor of retiring University president, Richard Henry Jesse

Richard Henry Jesse

Richard Henry Jesse was an American educator and the eighth president of the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. He was born in Lancaster County, Virginia 1853 and attended the University of Virginia. He went on to teach at the University of Louisiana and Tulane University before...

.

In 1932, a tornado ripped through Columbia and caused significant damage to the building. In 1982, a severe storm damaged Jesse Hall, resulting in renovations that included a new ball and new slate on the dome, tempered windows, reinforced beams, and a new paint job. The renovations cost roughly $390,000 and were paid for by state funds. On April 23, 1991, an arson fire caused $350,000-$500,000 in damage to the building.

Architecture

The building is one of the most distinctive on the campus; the dome stands a full 9 stories above the ground, and is actually taller than the building it stands on. It was designed by Morris Frederick Bell and fashioned after Richard M. Upjohn

Richard M. Upjohn

Richard Michell Upjohn, FAIA, was an influential American architect, co-founder and president of the American Institute of Architects.-Early life and career:...

's Connecticut State House of 1872-1878. The dome was first lit in October 1987 to commemorate MU's sesquicentennial celebration. It is normally illuminated at night by bright white lights, but its color is changed to gold for Homecoming

Homecoming

Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back alumni of a school. It most commonly refers to a tradition in many universities, colleges and high schools in North America...

 and green for Engineers' Week each March.

A winged sphere originally surmounted the dome. The wings broke from the sphere when an exceptionally patriotic individual fastened the staff of a large American flag to the topmost part of the dome. The winged sphere lives on as the symbol of the secret society QEBH

QEBH

QEBH is a senior honor society at the University of Missouri. Founded in 1897, it is the oldest of six recognized secret honor societies on campus.-History:The society was founded in November 1897 by eight men...

.

Jesse Auditorium

The original entrance to the auditorium was from the quad on the north side. It originally seated 1,200 people, but after being proclaimed a fire hazard the wooden balcony was removed, reducing capacity to only 400. A complete renovation of the auditorium was carried out in 1953 with a design by Jamieson and Spearl

Jamieson and Spearl

Jamieson and Spearl was a St. Louis, Missouri architectural firm that designed most of the buildings built at Washington University at St. Louis and the University of Missouri between 1912 and 1950.-Biography:...

, and today it seats 1,732. Many great talents have graced the stage at Jesse. William Jennings Bryan

William Jennings Bryan

William Jennings Bryan was an American politician in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. He was a dominant force in the liberal wing of the Democratic Party, standing three times as its candidate for President of the United States...

gave his famous "Pending Problems" lecture there in 1900. Today, the University Concert Series books events such as touring Broadway shows, symphony orchestras, singers, and comedians from around the world.

External links

• Jesse Auditorium
• Jesse Hall on the MU map
• The University Concert Series