In the beginning...

When the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan first opened its doors in the spring of 1857, there were 63 students, five professors, and only three buildings in a crude clearing of trees. The grounds were a rough hodge-podge of scattered stumps, barely cleared land and swampy' jungles.

Michigan State's oldest tradition is its campus park.

The original spot was chosen for its natural 'oak opening' on a gentle hill. This "sacred space", the original heart of campus is still preserved today in the center of Circle Drive.

Do you want to learn more about the campus and its connection to University History?

Campus: Then & Now. In this section, interact with an old map that shows what buildings were on campus in 1875 vs. what is located there today. Each pop-up will give a short description of the building or area.

Faces and Places. Several of our campus buildings are named after influential folks from the time of Saints’ Rest – come learn about the history of these men and the buildings named after them.

Saving our Roots. Historic preservation is important on campus today and has been in the past as well. See the importance of preserving our history, both above and below ground, here at MSU.