Memorial Gymnasium (Virginia) facts for kids
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Mem Gym
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| Location | 210 Emmet Street South |
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| Owner | University of Virginia |
| Operator | University of Virginia |
| Capacity | 2,500 |
| Surface | wood court |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1924 |
| Renovated | 2005 |
| Architect | Fiske Kimball |
| Tenants | |
| Virginia Cavaliers (Volleyball and Wrestling) (Formerly Swimming and Basketball) |
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Memorial Gymnasium
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 210 S. Emmett St., Charlottesville, Virginia |
| Area | 5.1 acre |
| Built | 1924 |
| Architect | Fiske, Kimble, et al. |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| NRHP reference No. | 04001291 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | December 4, 2004 |
Memorial Gymnasium, often called Mem Gym, is a large sports building in Charlottesville, Virginia. It has seats for 2,500 people. This gym first opened its doors in 1924. For many years, it was the main place where the University of Virginia's Cavaliers basketball team played. A new building called University Hall opened in 1965, becoming their new home.
History of Mem Gym
Memorial Gymnasium was built to honor students from the University of Virginia who lost their lives in World War I. Students from the classes of 1920 and 1921 helped raise money for the gym. They collected $142,000, and the building was finished in 1924.
From the very beginning, Mem Gym was a busy place. It hosted many sports like basketball and boxing. It was also used for social events, like dances. The university's basketball team played here for 42 seasons. Later, the swimming, diving, and indoor track teams also used the gym.
After some updates, Memorial Gym is now used a lot for the university's "intramural programs." These are sports and activities for students who want to play for fun. It is also the home court for the Cavaliers' wrestling and women's volleyball teams.
A famous event happened at Memorial Gym on June 10, 1940. Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was the President of the United States, was giving a speech. During his speech, he learned that Italy had joined forces with Nazi Germany. This moment became known as his "Stab in the Back" speech.
What Mem Gym is Used For Now
Today, Memorial Gymnasium is still a very active place. It is the home arena for the university's wrestling and women's volleyball teams. Students also use it for many different intramural sports. Sometimes, it is even changed into an indoor soccer field.
Recent Updates to the Building
Memorial Gym has received important improvements over the years. An unknown person gave a generous gift of $845,500. This money helped pay for many updates and repairs to the building.
