Morrill Hall and John Mackay Statue, 2001

This view of shows the backside of the John Mackay Statue and Morrill Hall seen from the north end of the Quad. The Mackay Statue was placed in front of the Mackay School of Mines during its opening in 1908. Clarence Mackay, a great benefactor during the beginning years of the university, had the statue made in honor of his father, John Mackay. The statue was created by up-and-coming sculpture at the time Gutzon Borglum, best known for Mt. Rushmore. The statue was situated so that Mackay’s face is looking toward Virginia City where he made his fortune in the Comstock Mine. Morrill Hall, originally known as the Main Building, was the first building constructed at the university in 1885 and still stands today at the southern part of the Old Quad. This building housed classrooms, dorm rooms, and administrative offices for the university until expansion began. Named for Senator Justin S. Morrill of Vermont, who wrote the Morrill Land-Grant Act of 1862 which led to the creation of universities across the United States, the building cost $13,000 to construct. In 1979 the building was renovated to appear how it is today.