Historic Preservation

The University of Arizona is committed to the preservation and stewardship of  historical, archaeological, cultural, and architectural resources on its main campus and other properties throughout Arizona.

The 33-acre Campus Historic District was created in 1986, recognizing the significance of the campus' historic core. The district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and showcases buildings and landscapes dating from 1891 through 1937.

The verdant landscapes of the Historic District have been a favorite place for generations of students, staff, and the Tucson community. Features within the landscape, such as the lava rock wall, the Main Gate, and the fish pond are all part of the historic fabric. Within the District and throughout the campus, the Campus Arboretum showcases a world-class collection of desert-adapted plants including a number of Heritage Trees and Great Trees of Arizona.

Buildings in the Historic District display a record of architectural styles ranging from Territorial Queen Anne to Classical Revival, Renaissance Revival, and Spanish and Romanesque Revival. The material that ties them all together is red brick, the predominant building material on campus throughout its history. Outstanding craftsmanship and exquisite detailing are hallmarks of these buildings. Seventeen historic buildings are located in the District.

Five buildings on campus are individually listed on the National Register. Of these five, Bear Down Gym, Smith House, and Cannon-Douglass House are located on campus but outside of the District.

• Old Main, 1887-91
• Arizona State Museum, 1923-27
• Bear Down Gymnasium, 1926
• Smith House, 1904
• Cannon-Douglass House, 1906

Sixteen structures are listed as contributing to the District:

• 2006 Historic Preservation Plan

  The 2006 Historic Preservation Plan was produced as a companion document to the 2003 Comprehensive Campus Plan and specifically addresses main campus historic resources. The Plan is comprised of two parts: the general plan, and a set of maintenance manuals for the treatment and preservation of building and landscapes.

  Historic Preservation Policy

  Official policy on historic preservation.

  Historic Preservation Project Review Process

  In conjunction with the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee and the Historic Preservation Coordinator, projects are reviewed for compliance with the UA Historic Preservation Policy and state requirements of the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).  

  Campus Historical Overview

  A class presentation entitled, "Architecture and Tradition at the University of Arizona." A photographic exploration of campus planning and architecture at the UA from 1885 to present.

• Links

  State Historic Preservation Office
  National Register of Historic Places
  Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties