Old Medical College

Last updated
Old Medical College Building
Old Medical College (Augusta, Georgia).jpg
HABS photo from 1934
USA Georgia location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location 598 Telfair, at 6th Street, Augusta, Georgia
Coordinates 33°28′13″N81°57′47″W / 33.47028°N 81.96306°W / 33.47028; -81.96306 Coordinates: 33°28′13″N81°57′47″W / 33.47028°N 81.96306°W / 33.47028; -81.96306
Area 1.51 acres (0.61 ha)
Built 1834
Architect Charles B. Cluskey
Architectural style Greek Revival
NRHP reference # 72000398
Significant dates
Added to NRHP March 16, 1972 [1]
Designated NHL June 19, 1996 [2]

The Old Medical College Building is a historic academic building at 598 Telfair Street in Augusta, Georgia. It was built in 1835 for the Medical College of Georgia, then and now one of the leading medical schools of the American South. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1996 for its sophisticated Greek Revival architecture, and for the role the school played in the establishment of the American Medical Association and the standardization of medical practices. [2] [3]

Augusta, Georgia Consolidated city-county in Georgia, United States

Augusta, officially Augusta–Richmond County, is a consolidated city-county on the central eastern border of the U.S. state of Georgia. The city lies across the Savannah River from South Carolina at the head of its navigable portion. Georgia's second-largest city after Atlanta, Augusta is located in the Piedmont section of the state.

Medical College of Georgia medical school of the University System of Georgia, United States

The Medical College of Georgia is the flagship medical school of the University System of Georgia, the state's only public medical school, and one of the top 10 largest medical schools in the United States. Established in 1828 as the Medical Academy of Georgia, MCG is the oldest and founding school of Augusta University. It is the third-oldest medical school in the Southeast and the 13th oldest in the nation. With 22 departments, it offers both a Doctor of Medicine (MD) as well as MD-PhD, MD-MPH, and MD-MBA degrees. Its national ranking in research is 84, and its ranking in primary care is 88.

National Historic Landmark formal designation assigned by the United States federal government to historic buildings and sites in the United States

A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Of over 90,000 places listed on the country's National Register of Historic Places, only some 2,500 are recognized as National Historic Landmarks.

Contents

Description and history

The Old Medical College Building is located in central Augusta, behind Augusta City Hall at the corner of Telfair and 6th Streets. It is a two-story Greek Revival structure, built out of brick covered with stucco scored to resemble stone. Its front facade, facing Telfair Street, has a projecting Greek temple portico, with six massive fluted Doric columns supporting an entablature and gabled pediment. The main entry is at the center, and there are seven small square windows evenly spaced on the second level. The side walls are five bays wide. A parapet surrounds a shallow-pitch hip roof, which rises to a central dome. The interior housed what were, for the 1830s, generous quarters for a medical school, including several laboratory spaces, lecture halls, and a library. [3]

Greek Revival architecture architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries

The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture. The term was first used by Charles Robert Cockerell in a lecture he gave as Professor of Architecture to the Royal Academy of Arts, London in 1842.

Brick Block or a single unit of a ceramic material used in masonry construction

A brick is building material used to make walls, pavements and other elements in masonry construction. Traditionally, the term brick referred to a unit composed of clay, but it is now used to denote any rectangular units laid in mortar. A brick can be composed of clay-bearing soil, sand, and lime, or concrete materials. Bricks are produced in numerous classes, types, materials, and sizes which vary with region and time period, and are produced in bulk quantities. Two basic categories of bricks are fired and non-fired bricks.

Stucco material made of aggregates, a binder, and water

Stucco or render is a material made of aggregates, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as a decorative coating for walls and ceilings, and as a sculptural and artistic material in architecture. Stucco may be used to cover less visually appealing construction materials, such as metal, concrete, cinder block, or clay brick and adobe.

The building in 2017 Old Mecical College Building, Augusta, GA, US (07).jpg
The building in 2017

The Medical College of Georgia was chartered in 1829 as a state-chartered private institution. This building was built as its main facility in 1835 to a design by Charles Blaney Cluskey, one of America's early trained architects and a proponent of the "new" Greek Revival style. The building was lauded at its completion for its Classical proportions. It served the medical school until 1913, when it moved to new quarters. The school is now part of Augusta University. [3]

1829 Year

1829 (MDCCCXXIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar and a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar, the 1829th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 829th year of the 2nd millennium, the 29th year of the 19th century, and the 10th and last year of the 1820s decade. As of the start of 1829, the Gregorian calendar was 12 days ahead of the Julian calendar, which remained in localized use until 1923.

1835 Year

1835 (MDCCCXXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar and a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar, the 1835th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 835th year of the 2nd millennium, the 35th year of the 19th century, and the 6th year of the 1830s decade. As of the start of 1835, the Gregorian calendar was 12 days ahead of the Julian calendar, which remained in localized use until 1923.

Classical architecture Architectural style

Classical Architecture usually denotes architecture which is more or less consciously derived from the principles of Greek and Roman architecture of classical antiquity, or sometimes even more specifically, from the works of Vitruvius. Different styles of classical architecture have arguably existed since the Carolingian Renaissance, and prominently since the Italian Renaissance. Although classical styles of architecture can vary greatly, they can in general all be said to draw on a common "vocabulary" of decorative and constructive elements. In much of the Western world, different classical architectural styles have dominated the history of architecture from the Renaissance until the second world war, though it continues to inform many architects to this day.

The school's faculty was one of the principal forces behind the establishment of the American Medical Association in 1847, promoting the establishment of guidelines for medical practices, medical education standards, and guidelines for the accreditation of medical schools, at a time when no such standards and guidelines existed. [3]

American Medical Association professional association for physicians and medical students

The American Medical Association (AMA), founded in 1847 and incorporated in 1897, is the largest association of physicians—both MDs and DOs—and medical students in the United States.

1847 (MDCCCXLVII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar, the 1847th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 847th year of the 2nd millennium, the 47th year of the 19th century, and the 8th year of the 1840s decade. As of the start of 1847, the Gregorian calendar was 12 days ahead of the Julian calendar, which remained in localized use until 1923.

The school's old building was taken over in 1913 by the adjacent Richmond Academy, which used it as a vocational training center until 1926. It saw use over much of the remaining 20th century by a variety of organizations, notably including the Sand Hills Garden Club, under whose tenure the latticework brick fence was built (1933), and the grounds landscaped. In 1987, the building was acquired by the Medical College of Georgia Foundation, which restored it to its 19th-century appearance, while also upgrading its systems to modern standards. [3]

1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1926th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 926th year of the 2nd millennium, the 26th year of the 20th century, and the 7th year of the 1920s decade.

20th century Century

The 20th (twentieth) century was a century that began on January 1, 1901 and ended on December 31, 2000. It was the tenth and final century of the 2nd millennium. It is distinct from the century known as the 1900s which began on January 1, 1900 and ended on December 31, 1999.

1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1933rd year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 933rd year of the 2nd millennium, the 33rd year of the 20th century, and the 4th year of the 1930s decade.

See also

This is a list of properties and districts in Richmond County, Georgia that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

Related Research Articles

Academy of Richmond County

The Academy of Richmond County is a high school located in Augusta, Georgia, United States. Known previously as Richmond County Military Academy, it is commonly known as Richmond Academy or ARC.

Augusta Canal canal in Augusta, Georgia, United States of America

The Augusta Canal is a historic canal located in Augusta, Georgia, United States. The canal is fed by the Savannah River and passes through three levels in suburban and urban Augusta before the water returns to the river at various locations. It was devised to harness the water power at the fall line of the Savannah River to drive mills, to provide transportation of goods, and to provide a municipal water supply. It is the only canal in the US in continuous use for its original purposes of providing power, transport, and municipal water.

Minard Lafever (1798–1854) was an American architect of churches and houses in the United States in the early nineteenth century.

Owens–Thomas House

The Owens–Thomas House & Slave Quarters is a historic home in Savannah, Georgia, that is operated as a historic house museum by Telfair Museums. It is located at 124 Abercorn Street, on the northeast corner of Oglethorpe Square. The Owens–Thomas House & Slave Quarters was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976, as one of the nation's finest examples of English Regency architecture.

Carmichael House (Macon, Georgia) National Historic Landmark

The Carmichael House, known also as Raines-Carmichael House, Raines-Miller-Carmichael House or Cadwalader Raines House, is a Greek Revival mansion at 1183 Georgia Avenue in Macon, Georgia, United States. Built in 1848, the house is a nationally significant example of Greek Revival architecture, built and designed by local master builder Elam Alexander. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1973.

Octagon House (Columbus, Georgia)

The Octagon House, also known as May's Folly, is a historic octagon house at 527 1st Avenue in Columbus, Georgia. Built about 1830 and enlarged in 1863, it is claimed by the local historical society to be the nation's only known example of a double-octagon house. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1973.

Stephen Vincent Benét House building in Georgia, United States

The Stephen Vincent Benét House, commonly referred to as Benét House, is a historic house on the Summerville campus of Georgia Regents University in Augusta, Georgia. The house was built 1827–29 as the Commandant's House of the Augusta Arsenal, and is a much-altered example of Federal period architecture. The house was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1971 for its association with the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Stephen Vincent Benét (1898–1943), who lived here in the 1910s. The house, which housed the official residence of the Augusta State University for a time, presently houses the Summerville campus's office of admissions.

College Hill (Augusta, Georgia)

College Hill, also known as George Walton House, Harper House, or Walton-Harper House, is a historic house at 2216 Wrightsboro Road in Augusta, Georgia. It was built in 1795, and was the home George Walton, a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence, from then until his death in 1804. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1971. It is a private residence, and is not open to the public.

Old Governors Mansion (Milledgeville, Georgia)

Georgia's Old Governor's Mansion is a historic house museum located on the campus of Georgia College & State University (GCSU) at 120 South Clarke Street in Milledgeville, Georgia. Built in 1839, it is one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in the American South, and was designated a National Historic Landmark for its architecture in 1973. It served as Georgia's executive mansion from 1839- 1868, and has from 1889 been a university property, serving for a time as its official president's residence. It is an accredited museum of the American Alliance of Museums and in 2015 was named an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.

William Scarbrough House

William Scarbrough House is a historic house at 41 Martin Luther King, Jr., Boulevard in Savannah, Georgia. Built in 1819, and subjected to a number later alterations, it is nationally significant as an early example of Greek Revival architecture, and is one of the few surviving American works of architect William Jay. The house was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1973. It is now home to the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, and it has largely been restored to an early 19th-century appearance.

Meadow Garden (Augusta, Georgia)

Meadow Garden is a historic house museum at 1320 Independence Drive in Augusta, Georgia. It was a home of George Walton (1749–1804), one of Georgia's three signers of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, and later a governor of Georgia and a United States Senator. Meadow Garden was saved and established as a museum by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1901. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1981.

Fountain Hall

Fountain Hall, formerly Fairchild Hall and Stone Hall, is a historic academic building on the grounds of Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia. Built in 1882, it is the oldest surviving building originally associated with Atlanta University, one of the first historically black colleges and universities in the American South. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1974. It is now named after Bishop William A. Fountain.

Telfair Academy

The Telfair Academy is a historic mansion at 121 Barnard Street in Savannah, Georgia. It was designed by William Jay and built in 1818, and is one of a small number of Jay's surviving works. It is one of three sites owned by Telfair Museums. Originally a family townhouse belonging to the Telfair family, it became a free art museum in 1886, and thus one of the first 10 art museums in America, and the oldest public art museum in the South. Its first director, elected in 1883, was artist Carl Ludwig Brandt, who spent winters in Savannah. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976.

History of Augusta, Georgia history of the city in Richmond County, Georgia, United States

Augusta, Georgia was founded in 1736 as part of the British colony of Georgia, under the supervision of colony founder James Oglethorpe. It was the colony's second established town, after Savannah. Today, Augusta is the third-largest city in Georgia, and the largest city of the Central Savannah River Area.

Augusta Downtown Historic District

Augusta Downtown Historic District is a historic district that encompasses most of Downtown Augusta, Georgia and its pre-Civil War area.

Woodrow Wilson Boyhood Home

The Woodrow Wilson Boyhood Home is a historic house museum at 419 7th Street in Augusta, Georgia. Built in 1859, it was a childhood home of Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924), the 28th president of the United States and proponent of the League of Nations. The house is owned and operated by Historic Augusta, Inc., and was designated a National Historic Landmark on October 6, 2008.

St. Marys Roman Catholic Church Complex (Waltham, Massachusetts) church in Waltham, Massachusetts, USA

St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church Complex is a historic multi-building church complex at 133 School Street in Waltham, Massachusetts. Established as a parish in 1835, it is the city's oldest Roman Catholic establishment. Its 1858 Romanesque Revival church and 1872 Second Empire rectory are particularly fine architectural examples of their styles. The complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

Georgia Cottage building in Alabama, United States

Georgia Cottage, also known as the Augusta Evans Wilson House, is a historic residence in Mobile, Alabama, United States. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 14, 1972, based on its association with Augusta Jane Evans. She was one of the most popular American novelists of the nineteenth century and the first female author in the United States to earn over $100,000 for her work, but has been largely forgotten in recent times.

Marsh-Warthen House

The Marsh-Warthen House in Lafayette, Georgia is a historic Greek Revival house that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is open as a historic house museum and events venue, and is owned by the government of Walker County, Georgia.

References

  1. ↑ National Park Service (2007-01-23). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service.
  2. 1 2 "Old Medical College (Augusta)". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved 2008-04-30.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Todd Savitt and Anne Floyd (September 23, 1994). "National Historic Landmark Nomination: Old Medical College / Medical College of Georgia" (pdf). National Park Service. and Accompanying photos, exterior and interior, from 1973 and 1995  (32 KB)

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.