Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt -- his statue is shown above in front of Kirkland Hall -- was 79 when he contributed $1 million in 1873 to build and endow a university that would "strengthen the ties" among the nation's geographic constituencies.

Views of the Medical Center, early 1900s above, and today, left

The original Vanderbilt campus consisted of 75 acres. By 1960, the campus had spread to about 260 acres of land. When George Peabody College for Teachers merged with Vanderbilt in 1979, about 53 acres were added.

Since its inception, Vanderbilt has been led by only eight chancellors. Read the biographies of all of Vanderbilt's chancellors.

At the outset, the University consisted of one building, Old Main, above, an astronomical observatory and houses for professors. Old Main and all of its contents were partially destroyed in a fire in 1905. It was rebuilt and renamed Kirkland Hall, in honor of James H. Kirkland, the longest serving Chancellor in University history (1893-1937). At right, Kirkland Hall today.

Above: Overview of central campus, early 1900s