Georgetown’s 235-year-old campus is rich with history and buildings that stand as a testament to the university’s longstanding presence in the nation’s capital.
But while Healy Hall is widely symbolic of the Hilltop, Old North once stood as the center of the university, punctuating the Washington, DC, skyline with its distinctive towers.
Before Old North became an academic building, it once held dorm rooms, a chapel, library and even the university president’s office all under one roof. Old North’s early inhabitants even witnessed history within its walls, from the burning of DC during the War of 1812 to the stationing of Union soldiers during the Civil War.
Old North also may be one of the most visited buildings in the country by U.S. presidents, hosting fourteen presidents from George Washington to Barack Obama.
Watch the latest What Rocks to discover the hidden history and presidential lore behind one of the most storied buildings at Georgetown.
