Embedded Files
by Allison Brooks and Ea Schmelzle
This picture shows Jayhawk Boulevard during the 1920s. Sitting next to Bailey Hall on the left side of the street, Strong Hall is the largest and most distinguishable building in this picture.
It is safe to say that Jayhawk Boulevard is the heart of the University of Kansas (KU) campus. Spanning from the Union all the way to the Chi Omega fountain, this stretch of road is the central hub for all things KU. It houses lecture halls, student activities, dining areas, and much more making it a key location in the lives of all KU students. The boulevard has been around as long as the university itself, and the two have evolved together in many ways throughout the decades. Many important decisions about Jayhawk Boulevard have been made over the years, from the decisions surrounding its origin, to the period of development in the 1970s, and to the most recent renovation project in 2013. KU alum Jennifer Sanner put it best in her 2017 interview with the Kansan when she said, “Campus is a touchstone for a lot of people, and while it’s changed throughout the years, the heart of Jayhawk Boulevard is what anchors it still.”
Jayhawk Boulevard, recognized for its natural beauty and busy streets, is home to many important historical sites linked to the origin of the streets they surround. The first of these being the Budig Hall which was built in 1925. During this time, Budig Hall also known as Hoch Auditoria was used as a basketball court and lecture halls. It was named after the 17th Governor of Kansas Edward W. Hoch. Shortly after the construction of Budig Hall, the World War II Memorial Campanile was built in 1950. This beautiful tower was built in honor of 277 KU associated students and faculty members who died during the war. Next, welcoming visitors as the first memorable structures on Jayhawk Boulevard, the fountain’s design was influenced by 18th century English manor houses and on April 24, 1955 cost a total of 11,793.99 dollars to install.
Over the years, Jayhawk Boulevard was bound to change due to social impacts. One of the most noticeable of these being the bicycle boom during the 1970s. According to The Guardian, a British news and media website, the United States experienced a three million selling increase among bicycle sales. The Guardian wrote according to a Bank of America report, “US bicycle sales, which had been rolling along at 6 million a year, shot up to 9 million in 1971, 14 million in 1972 and 15.3 million the following year.” This trend was affiliated to the habits of US consumers including those on KU campus. As a result of the increase of bicycles during this time, KU implemented a long stream of bicycle racks running up and down the sidewalks on Jayhawk Boulevard.
Lastly, in 2013 a renovation project three years in the works was announced that would span the following four summers. Plans for this revamp included major changes to the pavement, underground tunnel, storm drainage system, and landscaping. The project was broken into phases and the first phase was focused on planting trees throughout the walkways. This was the first time since the 1970s that the road was lined with trees according to the Kansan, “It was around this time (1973) that trees planted over a century ago on the boulevard began succumbing to Dutch Elm disease, which has, in the forty years since, decimated this greener facet of Jayhawk.” In addition to beautification this project was heavily focused on infrastructure as many aspects of the boulevard had not been updated since their creation, “The water lines beneath the boulevard have not been replaced since they were first installed, underground access tunnels are in danger of collapsing on workers and accessible ramps constructed near buildings years ago are not currently up to code,”. The first phase of this four-year renovation was estimated to cost around $1.9 million and was heavily funded by donations from KU Endowment and other private donors. It is hoped that these improvements made to Jayhawk will help maintain a safe and beautiful campus for years to come.
This is a picture of Jayhawk Boulevard during the 1970s. During this time, society was experiencing a bicycle boom. This explains the many bikes hooked to sidewalk rails which ran along the street.
Above is another picture of Jayhawk Boulevard from the 1970s. On the right side of the picture, bicycles are hooked to the guard rails.
All in all, one thing has remained the same through Jayhawk Boulevard’s creation and many renovations, the goal to make it the most welcoming, appealing, and functional space it can be. When prospective students go on campus tours the University wants them to fall in love with their surroundings and that means continually making improvements to Jayhawk. It is not all the individual buildings or even the landscaping on Jayhawk Boulevard that make it the heart of campus, but rather the constant push for it to be the best it possibly can. From Wescoe Beach to the Union there is nothing quite like sitting on a bench and watching the leaves fall in between classes.
1990
1990
2018
2018
These images highlight some of the most recent changes made to Jayhawk Boulevard over the past three decades. Most notable is the construction of the Oread (2010) at the end of the street. In addition to that the photo from the 90s has cars and parking spots on the street and the 2018 photo only has buses and no streetside parking available. Lastly, there are other minor changes such as renovations made to the Union and various landscaping adjustments.
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