The Lyceum: Beauty, Magnificence and History Rolled Into One

Photo by Robert Jordan/Ole Miss Communications

The Lyceum at Ole Miss is the most famous building in the state of Mississippi for a multitude of reasons. The Ole Miss brand and the Lyceum go together like the New York Yankees and World Series titles. In other words they’re inseparable. Here are some fun facts that many of our alums are familiar, but may be unknown to our undergraduates.

Photo by Robert Jordan/Ole Miss Communications

•  Construction began in 1846, completed in 1848.
• It was the first bldg. constructed on campus and served initially as a library and housed several classrooms.
•  It is Greek Revival design.
• It served as a hospital during the Civil War and ironically 100 years later, the scene of one of the worst anti- civil rights riots in American history. Bullet marks are still visible.
• In 1858 the building was lengthened. In 1903 the N and S wings were added. In 1927 the graduating class donated the clock above the E portico.
• The Lyceum’s bell is believed to be the oldest bell in the United States!
• The bricks utilized in 1846-48 to construct the building are believed to have been made from clay at the site.
• The Lyceum offices the chancellor and other academic officials.
• The architect was William Nichols.
• An $11M renovation was completed in 2001.

Anyone who has ever visited the University of Mississippi is always impressed when seeing this structure. It is a reflection of the southern United States and the history of its people.

The Lyceum is to Ole Miss what the White House is to DC, what the Parthenon is to Nashville, and Butler Cabin to Augusta National.

Thanks to the University of Mississippi archives for information contributing to this article.

Steve Vassallo is a HottyToddy.com contributor. Steve writes on Ole Miss athletics, Oxford business, politics and other subjects. He is an Ole Miss grad and former radio announcer for the basketball team. Currently, Steve is a highly successful leader in the real estate business who lives in Oxford with his wife Rosie. You can contact Steve at sovassallo@gmail.com or call him at 985-852-7745.