University Of Virginia Historic District | |
 The Lawn in October 2006 | |
  | |
| Location | Bounded by University and Jefferson Park Aves., and Hospital and McCormick Rds., Charlottesville, Virginia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 38°2′5″N 78°30′15″W / 38.03472°N 78.50417°W |
| Area | 35 acres (14 ha) |
| Built | 1817 |
| Architect | Thomas Jefferson; Stanford White |
| Architectural style | Early Republic |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000865[1] |
| VLR No. | 002-5161 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | November 20, 1970 |
| Designated NHLD | November 11, 1971[3] |
| Designated VLR | October 6, 1970[2] |
The Lawn, a part of Thomas Jefferson's Academical Village, is a large, terraced grassy court at the historic center of Jefferson's academic community at the University of Virginia. The Lawn and its surrounding buildings, designed by Jefferson, demonstrate Jefferson's mastery of Palladian and Neoclassical architecture, and the site has been recognized as an architectural masterpiece in itself. The Lawn has been designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark District, and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the original buildings of the University of Virginia and Monticello, Jefferson's nearby residence; this designation is due to the site's architectural and cultural significance.[4]
Jefferson originally designed the Lawn to be the center of the university, and as such it is surrounded by housing for students and faculty. Its most famous building is The Rotunda, which sits at the north end of the site, opposite Old Cabell Hall. Framing the other two sides of the Lawn are ten Pavilions, where faculty reside in the upper two floors and teach on the first, as well as 54 Lawn rooms, where carefully selected undergraduates reside in their final year. Being selected as a Lawn Resident in a student's fourth year is considered one of the university's most prestigious honors. Opposite the Pavilions and Lawn rooms are ten gardens, and similar to the Pavilions, each garden is designed in a distinct way; no two gardens are the same. The outermost row of buildings on either side constitute the edge of the Academical Village; these are known as The Range and house graduate students.[5]
The Lawn has served as the University of Virginia's symbolic center since the university was founded in 1819. It annually serves as the site of the university's graduation ceremonies, as well as various events throughout the year.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
- ^ "University of Virginia Historic District". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on October 6, 2012. Retrieved June 27, 2008.
- ^ "Monticello and the University of Virginia in Charlottesville". UNESCO World Heritage Convention. UNESCO. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
- ^ "Jefferson's Vision of the Academical Village". Thomas Jefferson's Academical Village. University of Virginia. Archived from the original on December 25, 2015. Retrieved June 27, 2015.