Lexington in Fayette County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Gillis Building 1889

Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 14, 2019

1. Gillis Building 1889 Marker

Inscription. Erected in 1889 as U.K.'s first Agricultural Experiment Station; now second oldest building on the campus. Destroyed by fire in 1891, it was rebuilt on the same site. Named for Ezra Gillis (1867-1958) who joined the U.K. faculty in 1907 and served as Registrar from 1910 to 1937.
Class of 1996
(Reverse)
Home to the Chemistry Department (1905) and the College of Law (1925). In 1939 it became the Student Health Service and Infirmary, complete with 40 beds and medical services for students. Beginning in 1962 this structure housed offices of Admissions (1962-86) and Registrar (1962-91).
Class of 1996

Erected 1996 by University of Kentucky, Kentucky Historical Society. (Marker Number 2012.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Education • Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the Kentucky Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1889.

Location. 38° 2.324′ N, 84° 30.322′ W. Marker is in Lexington, Kentucky, in Fayette County. It is on Administration Drive north of South Limestone (U.S. 27), on the right when traveling

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north. Located on the Campus of the University of Kentucky. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 502 Administration Drive, Lexington KY 40506, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Main Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Thomas D. Clark (within shouting distance of this marker); Barker Hall and Buell Armory (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); What's in a Name? (about 600 feet away); Kentucky Kernel (approx. 0.2 miles away); WBKY/WUKY (approx. 0.2 miles away); Margaret Isadora King / Margaret I. King Library (approx. 0.2 miles away); Stoll Field / McLean Stadium (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lexington.

More about this marker. This marker was entirely funded by student donations as part of the University of Kentucky (UK) Student Development Council (SDC). Each year, by tradition, each graduating class of UK shares a piece of UK and Kentucky history through this marker program. The SDC has raised more than $110,000 for the marker program and student scholarships as part of the Live Blue Legacy Program.

Also see . . . Kentucky Historical Society on the Gillis Building. (Submitted on July 21, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

The Ezra Gillis Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 14, 2019

2. The Ezra Gillis Building

Ancillary Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, March 27, 2021

3. Ancillary Marker

Located near the building's front entrance.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 1, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 21, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 545 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 21, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 3. submitted on April 1, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.