Old Main, Goethean Hall, and Diagnothian Hall
Also known as: Original Buildings of Franklin & Marshall College
Why it's listed
Brick and sandstone buildings of the 1850s on a hill west of central Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the three original academic buildings of Franklin and Marshall College were designed by Dixon, Balburnie & Dixon of Baltimore. Old Main's cornerstone was laid on July 24, 1854, and it was dedicated on May 16, 1856. Goethean and Diagnothian Halls were completed in 1857 and housed competing literary societies. Old Main is distinguished by a tower with octagonal turrets and sandstone finials, while the flanking halls have crenellated turrets, buttresses and a quatrefoil opening in each gable. The complex is regarded as an early example of Gothic Revival architecture, dating from before the Collegiate Gothic style later became common on American campuses. The college traces its origins to Franklin College, founded in 1787 with Benjamin Franklin among its original subscribers, and to Marshall College, established at Mercersburg in 1835. The buildings were the first built for the combined institution.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the three buildings form a planned architectural complex that dominates the hill on the west side of Lancaster and embodies all the original functions of the college, with the chapel in Old Main and literary society halls on either side. It regards the complex as a relatively early example of Gothic Revival architecture, predating later Collegiate Gothic campus buildings. It also ties the buildings to the college's origins in Franklin College (1787) and Marshall College (1835).
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 75001645, listed July 30, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Franklin and Marshall College campus, Lancaster |
|---|---|
| County | Lancaster County |
| Listed | July 30, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001645 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1856-1857 |
| Architect / builder | Dixon, Balburnie & Dixon (architects) |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture, Philosophy |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Within district | Lancaster City Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.04512, -76.32032 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 75001645.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7084416
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.