The Hill, Knoxville

There are two concentric roads around the Hill and university buildings ring both routes, with Ayres Hall located at the apex.

The sweeping lawn in front of Ayres Hall that drops to Cumberland Avenue is one of the largest open spaces on the campus.

Thomas Jefferson had previously recommended that the college relocate from its confining single building on State Street in downtown Knoxville to a site where it could spread out.

In the Summer of 1826, the trustees of what was then known as East Tennessee College explored the location west of the city and soon purchased it for $600.

While excavating to construct the first buildings on the site, they found two forgotten graves of early settlers who had died before Knoxville had a cemetery.