Memorial Gymnasium (Virginia)

Memorial Gymnasium
Mem Gym
Location	210 Emmet Street South
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)
	Memorial Gymnasium
	U.S. National Register of Historic Places
	Virginia Landmarks Register
Location	210 S. Emmett St., Charlottesville, Virginia
Coordinates	38°2′14″N 78°30′27″W / 38.03722°N 78.50750°W
Area	5.1 acre
Built	1924
Architect	Fiske, Kimble, et al.
Architectural style	Beaux Arts
NRHP reference No.	04001291
VLR No.	104-0095
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	December 4, 2004
Designated VLR	March 17, 2004

Memorial Gymnasium is a 2,500-seat multi-purpose arena in Charlottesville, Virginia. It opened in 1924. It replaced Fayerweather Gymnasium as home to the University of Virginia Cavaliers basketball team until University Hall opened in 1965.

History

Established originally as a memorial to the University's World War I casualties, the facility continues to play a role in the athletic, recreational and physical education-kinesiology programs at the school. The classes of 1920 and 1921 pledged a collected total of $142,000 in support of the gymnasium as a memorial and construction was completed in 1924.^[4] From its completion, the gymnasium housed a variety of sporting and social activities, including basketball, boxing and dances.^[5] The basketball program was housed in the building for 42 seasons before University Hall opened in 1965. It was also the past home of the swimming and dive teams^{[clarification needed]} and indoor track teams. After renovations, the building - now used extensively by the University's intramural programs - also serves as the home arena for the Cavaliers' wrestling and women's volleyball teams.

Memorial Gym was the site of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's "Stab in the Back" speech^[6] on June 10, 1940, when, in the middle of giving his commencement address to the graduating class, he was informed of the alliance between Italy and Nazi Germany.^[6]

Current usage

Memorial Gymnasium hosts the school wrestling and volleyball teams, and is also used by the school as an intramural sports venue.^[7] The building includes a small weight room, including cardiovascular machines, and boxing practice facilities, as well as an indoor wooden jogging track on the second floor that rings around and overlooks the basketball courts on the first floor. The swimming pool was also primarily used prior to the construction of the Aquatic and Fitness Center. The swimming pool was finally closed in 2007^{[clarification needed]} and converted into an indoor soccer ground.

Recent renovations

An anonymous gift of $845,500 provided for extensive improvements to the building.^{[citation needed]}

References

^ "Memorial Gymnasium National Register Nomination" (PDF). Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
^ ^a ^b "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.
^ Dabney, Virginius (1981). Mr. Jefferson's University: A History. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press. p. 66. ISBN 0-8139-0904-X.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ Dabney, 87, 89, 113.
^ ^a ^b ""Stab in the Back" Speech (June 10, 1940)". Miller Center of Public Affairs. Archived from the original on April 16, 2010. Retrieved September 15, 2008.
^ "Memorial Gymnasium – Rec Sports". UVA Rec Sports. December 1, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2019.

External links

[MemGymNom-1] "Memorial Gymnasium National Register Nomination" (PDF). Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved June 13, 2012.

[nris-2] "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.

[register-3] "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved June 5, 2013.

[dabney-funding-4] Dabney, Virginius (1981). Mr. Jefferson's University: A History. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press. p. 66. ISBN 0-8139-0904-X.^{[permanent dead link]}

[dabney-uses-5] Dabney, 87, 89, 113.

[FDR-6] ""Stab in the Back" Speech (June 10, 1940)". Miller Center of Public Affairs. Archived from the original on April 16, 2010. Retrieved September 15, 2008.

[7] "Memorial Gymnasium – Rec Sports". UVA Rec Sports. December 1, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2019.

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History

Current usage

Recent renovations

See also

References

External links