|
Although many people contributed to the reality of Gallaudet, it was truly born in the heart of one man. Edward Miner Gallaudet dreamed of offering more than just a school to deaf and blind children; he wanted to provide them with college educations as well. His vision was realized in 1864, when Abraham Lincoln signed a charter authorizing the conferring of college degrees by the Columbia Institution for the Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind. Edward helped start the new college and became its first president. Through his efforts, America became the first country in the world to have a college for deaf students. Gallaudet College later became Gallaudet University in honor of Edward's father, Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, who also dedicated his life to educating the deaf.
Today, Gallaudet University is the world's only university where all programs and services are specifically designed to accommodate deaf and hard of hearing students. Every year, students graduate from Gallaudet University and go on to become doctors, lawyers, accountants, teachers, botanists...whatever they want to be.
Gallaudet University is a beacon of educational opportunity for deaf people all over the world.
Did you know.
- Seventeen acres at the front of the campus are registered as the Gallaudet College Historic District in the National Register of Historic Places. The historic district includes Chapel Hall, College Hall, the houses on Faculty Row, and "Ole Jim." This area of campus and its original grounds were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the noted landscape architect who designed New York City's Central Park.
- The football huddle originated at Gallaudet University when the football team found that opposing teams were reading their signed messages and intercepting plays.
Please see the Gallaudet Map for more information. |
|
