Old Castle Hall

Old Castle Hall, Baker University
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location	513 5th St., Baldwin City, Kansas
Coordinates
Area	1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built	1858 (1858)
Architectural style	Plains Vernacular
NRHP Reference #	71000309
Added to NRHP	February 24, 1971

Old Castle Hall was the first building of Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas. It was built in 1857-58 to house the university on its first two floors, with the Palmyra Masonic Lodge occupying the third floor. It was used for classes until 1871, when other buildings were constructed for the purpose, and later used as a mill, a dormitory and for storage. The third floor was rebuilt during its service as a mill to address structural problems.

The building was restored in the 1950s and maintained as the Old Castle Museum. The museum features artifacts from early state, Methodist, and University history.

The hall is of rubble stone construction with crude quoining at the corners. The reconstruction of the third floor is visible by the change in material patter on the outside. The overall plan is a rectangle. The interior has been extensively altered.

Old Castle Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 24, 1971.

External links

• Old Castle Museum - official site at Baker University
• Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. KS-5, "Baker University Old Castle, 513 Fifth Street, Baker University Campus, Baldwin City, Douglas County, KS", 4 photos, 6 data pages