History Of The University Of Notre Dame

The University of Notre Dame is a private Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, Indiana. The school was founded by Father Edward Sorin, CSC, who was determined to establish a private Catholic university in the young country of America. Father Sorin arrived at the land that would become Notre Dame in December 1840 and selected the name Notre Dame du Lac (Our Lady of the Lake) for his new school from the rule book of St. Mary’s College in Le Mans, France. The Golden Dome symbolizes three elements that have shaped Notre Dame’s history throughout its 175 years: its Catholic mission; its humble beginnings as a small log cabin school; and its aspirations for greatness in teaching and research

On November 26, 1842, the University of Notre Dame was founded by Edward Sorin, C.S.C., who was determined to establish a private Catholic university in the young country of America. Father Sorin, who had come from France with six other priests and four seminarians, arrived at the land that would become Notre Dame in December 1840.

On November 26, 1842, the University of Notre Dame was founded by Edward Sorin, C.S.C., who was determined to establish a private Catholic university in the young country of America. Father Sorin, who had come from France with six other priests and four seminarians, arrived at the land that would become Notre Dame in December 1840.

Father Sorin selected the name Notre Dame du Lac (Our Lady of the Lake) for his new school from the rule book of St. Mary’s College in Le Mans, France. The title refers to a vision that appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque which led her to dedicate herself to work for people who were suffering on behalf of God’s love for humanity through unselfish action and love so that sinners might be converted back into becoming faithful followers once again within their own families or society as whole where they could be used effectively as instruments working together towards salvation instead being condemned forever separated from one another forevermore without hope or possibility even though all have sinned yet God still loves us anyway!

Father Sorin selected the name Notre Dame du Lac (Our Lady of the Lake) for his new school from the rule book of St. Mary’s College in Le Mans, France

Father Sorin selected the name Notre Dame du Lac (Our Lady of the Lake) for his new school from the rule book of St. Mary’s College in Le Mans, France. The log cabin school sits on land donated by Father Sorin’s friend John B. Millet, and it opened on November 26, 1842 with three students, two priests and one professor: Father Sorin himself.

The first years were difficult due to lack of funding and even more so because there was no library yet at Notre Dame. The first library was only built in 1882 with a donation from Andrew Carnegie, who later went on to donate 1/5th of all his wealth to fund building libraries around the world!

Father Sorin aspired for greatness in teaching and research which has continued throughout history with notable alumni like Eugene McCarthy (1960), former Senator from Minnesota who ran against Richard Nixon for president in 1968; Robert F Kennedy Jr., environmental lawyer who worked alongside Al Gore during the 2000 presidential election; Edward A Pillar Jr., former CIA director under Jimmy Carter; Carl E Marchetti III & Victor Marchetti II both worked at Lockheed Corporation as aerospace engineers until they were forced out due to exposing illegal government activities such as Area 51 among other things…

Notre Dame’s Old College Main Building, designed by Rev. Wilfred P. Tahy, C.S.C., and built between 1864 and 1866, was one of the first buildings on campus to make use of Indiana limestone as a primary building material rather than as just trim and ornamentation

The Old College Main Building, designed by Rev. Wilfred P. Tahy, C.S.C., and built between 1864 and 1866, was one of the first buildings on campus to make use of Indiana limestone as a primary building material rather than as just trim and ornamentation.

The structure features a very simple plan consisting of a three-story central block flanked by slightly lower two-story wings on either side; however its design is unique in that it incorporates both French Second Empire architectural elements (elevated mansard roof with dormers) as well as Greek Revival elements (swept gable roofs over all four sides). Its strong verticality is complemented by paired arched windows in each story while large arched entryways are located at each end of the main block. The main level also has an impressive double staircase which leads up to an elaborate portico with columns made from massive blocks of stone quarried at Oolitic Sandstone Company near Bedford, Indiana (about 30 miles northwest of South Bend).

The Golden Dome symbolizes three elements that have shaped Notre Dame’s history throughout its 175 years: its Catholic mission; its humble beginnings as a small log cabin school; and its aspirations for greatness in teaching and research.

The Golden Dome symbolizes three elements that have shaped Notre Dame’s history throughout its 175 years: its Catholic mission; its humble beginnings as a small log cabin school; and its aspirations for greatness in teaching and research.

The first building on campus was a wooden structure called Main Building, which was built in 1842. That building was replaced by the Library (1903), the Main Building (1904), the Science Hall (1906), the Armory-Building (1908) and Hesburgh Library (1965). The Golden Dome itself was completed in 1930 after construction began in 1925.

In 1896, the Main Building’s famously gilded dome was topped by a statue of the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus on her lap, which is now known as The Madonna of the Campus.

The Madonna of the Campus is a replica of the original statue created in France in 1892 that was destroyed in a fire at Notre Dame in 1896. The statue is located on top of the Golden Dome and holds an infant Jesus on her lap.

The original statue was designed by Maurice Denis, who also designed many other famous works including Le Baiser de la Vierge (The Kiss). Denis’ artistic style was inspired by medieval art and architecture which can be seen throughout his various works including this one.

Notre Dame has a rich and storied history, and we hope that this brief overview has helped you to get a better sense of it. As you can see, the University of Notre Dame began with humble beginnings and grew into an institution with international acclaim. The Golden Dome on top of its Main Building is one example of how Notre Dame has been able to achieve greatness in teaching and research over time, while remaining true to its Catholic mission.