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George Hart Hall

Coordinates: 38°32′27″N 121°45′00″W / 38.54083°N 121.75000°W / 38.54083; -121.75000 (Animal Science Building)
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George Hart Hall, originally the Animal Science Building, is an academic building in the University of California, Davis. It is one of the oldest buildings at UC Davis, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Originally made for the Department of Animal Science, it now houses various humanities departments.

Animal Science Building
The entrance of a light colored Spanish revival building with steps leading to a double door in sunlight. Bushes surround the outside with some trees in the far background.
Main entrance of Hart Hall
Map of California with Hart Hall pinpointed near the middle, in Yolo County.
Map of California with Hart Hall pinpointed near the middle, in Yolo County.
Location301 Shields Ave, Davis, California
Coordinates38°32′27″N 121°45′00″W / 38.54083°N 121.75000°W / 38.54083; -121.75000 (Animal Science Building)
Area2.2 acres (0.89 ha)
Built1928 (1928)
ArchitectHays, William Charles
Architectural styleMission/Spanish Revival
Restored1992
NRHP reference No.86001354[1]
Added to NRHPJune 17, 1986

History

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UC Davis was originally established in 1905 as the University Farm for the University of California,[2] focusing primarily on teaching known agricultural methods for practical purposes. In 1926, Dr. George H. Hart was appointed head of the Division of Animal Husbandry, where he shifted the focus of the University to agricultural research. Hart recognized that a larger building was required for his plans of a research based Animal Husbandry department, and in 1928 the Animal Science Building was built by the K. E. Parker Company.[3]

The building was designed by William Charles Hays, the supervising architect for the Davis campus in a Spanish Revival style. It is a roughly U-Shaped "pinkish-beige" building made of reinforced concrete, and is located on a corner of the UC Davis Quad.[3]

In 1983, the building was renamed to George Hart Hall.[3][4]

In 1985, an application prepared by Robin Elisabeth Datel was filed to include the building on the National Register of Historic Places.[5] Despite objections from then chancellor James H. Meyer,[6] the building was listed on June 17, 1986.[7]

In 1992, Hart Hall finished an $8.9 million renovation to prepare for it being used by social science programs.[8][9]

Since the relocation of the Animal Science department, Hart Hall has housed various humanities departments,[4] as well as the Gorman Museum of Native American Art from 1992 until moving to a new location in 2023.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  2. ^ Dingemans, Dennis; Scheuring, Ann Foley (2013). University of California, Davis. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. p. 7. ISBN 9780738596990.
  3. ^ a b c Datel, Robin E. (1986). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Animal Science Building". National Park Service. Retrieved April 30, 2024. With accompanying pictures
  4. ^ a b Gunasekara, Sara. "Historical Information about UC Davis Campus Buildings". UC Davis Library. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  5. ^ Datel, Robin E. (1985). [National Register of Historic Places Inventory— Nomination Form]. National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks Program Records. Retrieved from https://catalog.archives.gov/id/123862378
  6. ^ Meyer, James H. (October 10, 1985). [Letter from Chancellor Meyer to State Historical Preservation Officer Gualtieri]. National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks Program Records. Retrieved from https://catalog.archives.gov/id/123862378
  7. ^ National Register of Historic Places; Annual Listing of Historic Properties for Fiscal Years 1986 and 1987, 53 F.R. 18663. (May 24, 1988). Retrieved from https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/ll/fedreg/fr053/fr053100/fr053100.pdf
  8. ^ Holzer, Hannah (November 27, 2016). "Hart Hall: a hearty history". The California Aggie.
  9. ^ "Hart Hall Will Reopen its Doors Next Month". UC Davis. February 19, 1992.
  10. ^ Stark, Monica (August 27, 2023). "Gorman Museum ready to put on a show". The Davis Enterprise. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved May 22, 2024.