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 is a large sports building in Charlottesville, Virginia. It has 2,500 seats and opened in 1924. This gym is part of the University of Virginia. It was once the home court for the university's basketball team, the Virginia Cavaliers. Later, a new building called University Hall became their home in 1965.
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A Look Back at Memorial Gym's History
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 its construction. The gym was finished in 1924.
Sports and Events Over the Years
For many years, the gym was a busy place. It hosted basketball games, boxing matches, and even dances. The basketball team played there for 42 seasons. It was also home to the swimming, diving, and indoor track teams.
A big renovation happened in 2005. After this, the gym became a main spot for the university's intramural sports. These are fun sports leagues for students. Today, it is also the home arena for the Cavaliers' wrestling and women's volleyball teams.
A Famous Speech at the Gym
On June 10, 1940, something very important happened at Memorial Gym. President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave a speech there during a graduation ceremony. During his speech, he learned that Italy had joined forces with Nazi Germany. This was a major moment in history.
What Memorial Gym is Used For Today
Today, Memorial Gymnasium is still a very active place. It hosts the university's wrestling and women's volleyball teams. It is also widely used for intramural sports, where students play different games for fun.
Inside the Gym
The building has a small weight room with exercise machines. There are also facilities for boxing practice. On the second floor, there is an indoor wooden track. This track goes around the basketball courts on the first floor, offering a great view. The gym also used to have a swimming pool. This pool was closed in 2007 and was later turned into an indoor soccer area.
See also
