Арканзас Университетінің Ескі Бас ғимаратының тарихы

Old Main is the oldest building on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It is one of the most recognizable symbols of the University (especially to alumni and residents of the state of Arkansas), and of higher education in general in Arkansas.

Old Main was constructed between 1873 and 1875 as part of a land grant for the state of Arkansas. At this time it was known as University Hall. G. N. Wright was one of the contractors. In 1873, the University of Arkansas purchased Van Osdel's plans for the University Hall at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (demolished in 1938) and erected an identical structure. The contract to construct the Hall was signed by the superintendent of public instruction, Joseph Carter Corbin, 136 miles of lumber came by oxen drawn wagons from the Peter Van Winkle Sawmill near historic War Eagle Mill in Benton County. In the original building, stairwells were also sited at either end of the central "shotgun" hallway. These were closed off during the 1986–1991 restoration. Additional stairwells were sited at the ends of the wings, again to conform to building codes. The original 19th century Corinthian iron columns, featured prominently in almost all photographs of Old Main's wings, remain in place to this day. To conform to building codes, all but one floor's worth have been reinforced with welded steel and encased in fireproof boxes. The original columns in Giffels Auditorium were preserved in the renovation process. In order to preserve these columns while still conforming to building codes, they needed to be rendered non structural. The north wing of the building was therefore completely reconstructed such that loads are carried by the walls instead of the columns. The distinctive "inset" look of the windows of the modern Giffels auditorium are a result of this restructuring and reinforcement. In 2005 the building underwent another round of renovations. At that time, it received a new roof, aging mortar was replaced, and a clock face senator, and namesake of the college housed in Old Main, J. William Fulbright, was erected in the rear courtyard of the building. President Bill Clinton gave a much anticipated speech at the dedication ceremony.

In 1879, the first official bell for Old Main was installed. That bell still exists today, but is no longer in regular use. The last two times it was used was when it rang 10 times in 1985 to mark the $10 million received through donations for the restoration process and in July 1989 to mark the beginning of renovation. Electronic bells were installed during 1949, and dedicated to those students lost in any war. in the opposite tower that rang every hour and half hour and could be heard all over campus, as well as most of downtown Fayetteville and surrounding areas. When President Bill Clinton gave a much anticipated speech at the J. William Fulbright statue dedication ceremony, Clinton asked Chancellor John A. White, "Where is the clock?" Three years later, Old Main received a clock face. On October 27, 2005, after more than 130 years without a functioning clock face, a specially constructed clock was completed and dedicated This was in celebration of reaching a "Campaign for Twenty First Century" campaign goal of $1 billion and also included the replacement of aging mortar between bricks, replacing the roof, and other minor aesthetic improvements to the building.