The Colorado School of Mines is a public research university devoted to engineering and applied science located in the town of
Golden, Colorado. The school was originally founded in 1873 by the Episcopal Church, but in
1874 it was transferred to the Territory of Colorado. It became a
state institution when Colorado attained statehood in 1876. Its mascot is Blaster the Burro, the
Athletic teams are the Orediggers and its logo designed by architect Jacques Benedict
is inside a Reuleaux triangle or Reuleaux
tetrahedron.
Early history
Golden, Colorado, established in 1859 as Golden City, served as a supply center for miners and
settlers in the area. In 1866, Bishop George Maxwell Randall of
Massachusetts arrived in the territory and, seeing a need for higher education facilities
in the area, began planning for a university which would include a school of mines. In 1870, he
opened the Jarvis Hall collegiate school in the central building of the Colorado University Schools campus just south of the town of Golden, accompanied it with
Matthews Hall divinity school in 1872, and in
1873 the School of Mines opened under the auspices of the Episcopal Church in charge of Edward J. Mallet Jr.. In 1874 the School of Mines, supported by the territorial government since efforts began in 1870, was acquired by the
territory and has been a state institution since 1876 when Colorado attained statehood.
The first building on the current site of the school was built in 1880 with additions completed
in 1882 and 1890. The building, known as "Chemistry Hall," stood
where Hill Hall is now located. The next building to be added to the campus was Engineering Hall built in 1894 which is still in use today by the Economics and Business Division.
Engineering Hall
Other firsts include the first Board of Trustees meeting held in 1879; the first formal
commencement held in 1883 for two graduates; the first international student graduated in 1889; and the first female student
graduated in 1898. In 1906 Mines became the first school of its kind in the world to own and
operate its own experimental mine, designed for practical teaching of the students, which was located on Mt. Zion and succeeded
in the 1930s by the Edgar Mine. In 1879, there was some discussion about merging
School of Mines and the State University in Boulder (University of Colorado
at Boulder). Apparently, because of the specialized focus of School of Mines, it was decided that such a merger would not
be appropriate. During the early years of the institution the chief administrator was the "Professor in Charge." The designation
President was first used in 1880. The "M" on Mt. Zion, a prominent feature in the Golden area, was constructed in
1908 and lighted in 1932.
Early academic "departments" were "drafting," physics, metallurgy, chemistry and
mining. In the 1920's, departments formed in geology,
petroleum engineering and geophysics.
Petroleum refining was added in 1946. The Division of Liberal Arts and International
Studies and the Department of Physical Education and Athletics provide nontechnical educational opportunities for Mines students.
Other facilities include: Ben Parker Student Center, Arthur Lakes Library, Green Center and the Edgar Mine which is located in Idaho
Springs.
Today
The Colorado School of Mines is a public research university devoted to engineering and
applied science. It has the highest admissions standards of any public state university
in Colorado. Mines has distinguished itself by developing a curriculum and research program that is geared toward responsible
stewardship of the earth and its resources. In addition to strong education and research programs in traditional fields of
science and engineering, Mines is one of a very few institutions in the world having broad expertise in resource exploration,
extraction, production and utilization.[citation needed] As such, Mines occupies an unusual position among the world's institutions
of higher education.
The school recently completed the process of building a new student recreation center, and expanding its main computer center
(the CTLM).
On June 19th, 2006, Dr. Bill Scoggins took office as the 16th president of the school, replacing the retiring Dr. John
Trefney, who held the position since 2000.
The school operates one of the country's most prestigious geology museums. The museum displays rock and mineral specimens
collected from Colorado's numerous mining districts as well as around the world. The museum's exhibits include specimens from the
Frank Allison gold and silver collection, part of the famous Nininger meteorite collection, and Sweet Home Mine rhodochrosite, as
well as a model uranium mine and various pieces of mining related art.
The school also maintains one of the oldest mountain monograms in the
United States. Perched on Mount Zion above the campus, every evening, the stone monument
of the school's M logo is illuminated and can be seen from miles away. During holidays and special occasions, such as
finals week, the structure is illuminated different colors and patterns to reflect the season. Also, every year during the first
week of school, the bravest of the incoming freshmen class hike up to the "M" and contribute a 10 pound rock to the formation and
apply a fresh coating of whitewash.
Mines is the host of the annual Colorado State Science
Olympiad, which draws teams from both the northern regional (hosted at Poudre High School) and southern regional (hosted
at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs)
competitions. One or two teams usually advance to the national finals, depending on the number of teams registered to compete.
Mines also hosts the Colorado Regional Science Bowl, and shares hosting of the Colorado
State MathCounts Competition with University of
Denver, alternating biennially.
Facilities
The Colorado School of Mines campus presents one of the most unique and historically significant collections of academic
buildings in Colorado. As an unofficial rule throughout its history Mines buildings have been designed in the latest styles and
technology since its very first one, reflecting the technical nature of the school. Their design across time has spanned a
spectrum of styles from Second Empire to Postmodernist, created by noted Colorado architectural masters including
Robert S. Roeschlaub (Hall of Engineering), Jacques Benedict (Steinhauer Field House), and Temple Hoyne
Buell (Berthoud Hall). To date two main academic buildings are gone (original Territorial School of Mines, 1871-93; Hall
of Chemistry, 1880-1958), while the present campus includes:
- Alderson Hall
- Chemical Engineering
- Petroleum Engineering
- Berthoud Hall
- Geology and Geological Engineering
- Brown Hall (Building)
- Engineering (Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, undergraduate Environmental)
- Mining Engineering
- Chauvenet Hall
- Mathematical & Computer Sciences
- Coolbaugh Hall
- Chemistry and Geochemistry
- Environmental Science and Enginnering
- Center for Technology and Learning Media (CTLM)
- Academic Computing and Networking (new primary location as of 05/2007)
- Engineering Hall
- General Research Laboratory and Geology Museum
- Green Center
- Geophysics
- GC Office of Events
- Guggenheim Hall
- President's Office
- Administrative Offices
|
- Hall of Justice (the former Jefferson County judicial building)
- Building Closed in December 2006, it is pending asbestos remediation and demolition
- Hill Hall
- Materials Science
- Metallurgical and Materials Engineering
- Arthur Lakes Library
- Meyer Hall
- Recreation Center
- Stratton Hall
- Liberal Arts and International Studies
- Mathematical & Computer Sciences (not primary location)
- Student Center
- Admissions & Financial Aid
- Bookstore
- Registrar
- Student Life
- Student Heath Center
- U.S Geological Survey
- Volk Gymnasium
- Physical Education and Athletics
|
Major open-air athletic facilities of the Colorado School of Mines include historic Brooks Field and Darden Field.
The honorary named Colorado School of Mines buildings commemorate Dr. Victor C. Alderson, Edward L. Berthoud, George R. Brown, Dr. Regis Chauvenet, Dr. Melville F. Coolbaugh, Cecil H. and Ida Green, Simon Guggenheim, Nathaniel P. Hill, Arthur Lakes, Dr. Paul D. Meyer,
Winfield S. Stratton, and Russell K. Volk.
List of majors
List of Presidents
- A. Edward J. Mallett Jr. - 1873*
- B. Gregory Board - 1875*
- C. Milton Moss - 1878*
- 1. Albert C. Hale - 1880**
- 2. Regis Chauvenet - 1883
- 3. Charles S. Palmer - 1902
- 4a. Victor C. Alderson - 1903***
- 5. William G. Haldane - 1913
- 6. William B. Phillips - 1915
- 7. Howard C. Parmelee - 1916
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- 4b. Victor C. Alderson - 1917***
- 8. Melville F. Coolbaugh - 1925
- 9. Ben H. Parker - 1946
- 10. John W Vanderwilt - 1950
- 11. Orlo E. Childs - 1963
- 12. Guy T. McBride, Jr. - 1970
- 13. George S. Ansell - 1984
- 14. Theodore A. Bickart - 1998
- 15. John U. Trefny - 2000
- 16. Myles W. Scoggins- 2006
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Notes: * Professor in Charge ** Began as Professor in Charge, became the first President *** Served as President Twice
Notes
External links
Coordinates:
39°45′4″N, 105°13′21″W
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