Founded in 1862, the University of Maine at Orono opened its doors for the first time on September 21, 1868. In the original Historic District of 1978 were ten contributing buildings, built between 1868 and 1913. A boundary increase in 2010 greatly increased the number to 27 contributing buildings, including the Alumni Memorial Gymnasium, and four contributing sites.
Built through the gifts of alumni and friends in memory of those lost in World War I, it has been home to sports teams of the university ever since. In 2014 a major renovation and addition was underway, ultimately a $15.65 million renovation project.
The University of Maine saw approximately 1,000 students and alumni serve in World War I and 3,900 serve in World War II. Both wars had a strong effect on the university and its students; the desire to
honor those who had served and to memorialize those who had died led to various activities on campus. After the end of World War I, funds were raised to erect the Memorial Gymnasium and Armory and after
World War II, those who had died were honored in a volume titled "University of Maine, World War II: In Memoriam."
ACHIEVEMENT: The construction of the Alumni Memorial Gymnasium with its great field house, armory, and equipment, was a notable achievement through the cooperative efforts of over 5,000 alumni, faculty, students, and friends who contributed $500,000. A memorial to the Maine men who served in the World War, it stands as a magnificent tribute to the loyalty of all.
From the U of M, Orono