Old West, Dickinson College
About this property
Old West was the first building to be erected on the campus of Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. It was designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe in 1803, completed in 1822, and is a fine example of Federal period architecture. It was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1962 for its architecture and its association with Latrobe. The construction of Old West, known then as New College, was authorized and began in 1798. The effort was in response to the complaints that students could not live at the College. On June 20, 1799, the first cornerstone was laid by John Keen of Carpenters Co., Philadelphia. During construction in 1803, however, the brick portion of West College burnt down. In an attempt to rebuild a building that would be compatible with that of Princeton University, Judge Brackenridge went to Philadelphia to consult Benjamin Latrobe, who had remodeled Princeton's Nassau Hall and had completed extensive design work on the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. Latrobe was a willing contributor to the new design of West College. In a letter dated May 18, 1803, a copy of which may be seen in the Dickinson archives, Benjamin Henry Latrobe replies to Judge Brackenridge's request for drawings in great detail. Latrobe addresses the aspect of weather in Carlisle because of the extreme temperatures and amounts of moisture it acquires annually in the winter months. He explains that his design of the building allows for optimum light absorption through the windows and explains that the stone provides adequate shielding from the strong, crisp wind. The attention to stone as a weather-proof material was to have a lasting effect. Today, Old West houses the presidential and other administrative offices. Memorial Hall in particular is the home of various distinguished speakers, cultural symposiums, and mass every Sunday night. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1962. List of National Historic Landmarks in Pennsylvania National Register of Historic Places in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
Location
Categories
Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Everything a full report reveals about Old West, Dickinson College
This page lists Old West, Dickinson College. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Questions about this property
When was Old West, Dickinson College listed on the National Register?
Old West, Dickinson College was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.
What type of historic resource is Old West, Dickinson College?
Old West, Dickinson College is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.
Is Old West, Dickinson College a National Historic Landmark?
Yes. Old West, Dickinson College has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.
What is the period of significance for Old West, Dickinson College?
The period of significance for Old West, Dickinson College is recorded as the industrial era.
Can I research the history near Old West, Dickinson College?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Old West, Dickinson College will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
More in Cumberland County
Historic places, battles, and census history across Cumberland County.
Explore CumberlandCounty ›More historic places in Pennsylvania
Browse all historic places in Pennsylvania.
View Pennsylvaniahistoric sites ›Pennsylvania history
Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.
Pennsylvaniahistory ›Research the history near this site
An Aubrey US report for an address near Old West, Dickinson College will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.