Fountain Hall facts for kids
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Stone Hall, Atlanta University
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Stone Hall in 1979
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 Location in Atlanta
Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Location in the United States
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| Location | Morris Brown College campus, Atlanta, Georgia |
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| Built | 1882 |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000680 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 2, 1974 |
| Designated NHL | December 2, 1974 |
Fountain Hall is a very old and important building located at Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia. It was built in 1882 and was originally known as Stone Hall, then Fairchild Hall. It's the oldest building still standing that was part of Atlanta University, which was one of the very first colleges for African Americans in the Southern United States. Because of its history, Fountain Hall was named a National Historic Landmark in 1974, meaning it's a place of national importance. Today, it's named after Bishop William A. Fountain.
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What is Fountain Hall?
Fountain Hall is located southwest of downtown Atlanta, right on the campus of Morris Brown College. You can find it on the south side of Martin Luther King, Jr., Boulevard SW.
Building Design
The building is made of red bricks and stands about three-and-a-half stories tall. It has a cool hip roof and a five-story tower that rises above its main entrance. A Swedish-American architect named G. L. Norrman designed the building in a style called High Victorian Gothic. This style often includes pointed arches, fancy brickwork, and tall towers.
A Place of Learning and History
Fountain Hall has a rich history tied to education for African Americans.
Atlanta University's Beginnings
Atlanta University was founded on September 19, 1865. It was created by a missionary group to offer high-quality education to African Americans in the South after the Civil War. The school first started teaching college-level classes in 1869. Its first students graduated in 1873, many of them becoming teachers.
Stone Hall's Role
Stone Hall, which is now Fountain Hall, was built in 1882. It was one of the most important buildings on the Atlanta University campus. It held the main offices and many classrooms. For many years, the university offered both undergraduate (bachelor's degree) and graduate (master's or doctorate) programs.
In 1929, Atlanta University decided to focus only on graduate studies. Around that time, Stone Hall was given to Morris Brown College. Morris Brown College first renamed it Fairchild Hall and later Fountain Hall.
Famous People Who Studied or Taught Here
Many important African American leaders in business, education, and politics came from Atlanta University. One of the most famous people to teach there was Dr. W. E. B. Du Bois. He was a very important writer, historian, and civil rights activist.
Helping Fountain Hall Today
Fountain Hall is an old building, and like many old buildings, it needs care to stay strong.
Efforts to Restore the Building
In 2019, a group called the Atlanta chapter of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History started a special project. They called it "Friends of Fountain." Their goal was to raise money to help fix and protect Fountain Hall. They hope to turn it into an academic building and a gallery about the Civil Rights Movement.
National Park Service Support
In July 2019, the National Park Service, which helps protect important historical places, gave Morris Brown College $500,000. This money is a big help in restoring and preserving this historic building for future generations.
