Adrian Off The Beaten Path

Chartered on March 28, 1859, Adrian College traces its origins back to a Wesleyan Methodist theological institute founded at Leoni Michigan in 1845. This institution later became Michigan Union College. Strongly anti-slavery in its sentiments, the school was moved to Adrian in 1859 through the efforts of the antislavery leader and educator Rev. Asa Mahan, who was elected first president of the new Adrian College. The colllege was transferred to the Methodist Protestant Church in 1868, and here for 71 years, the leaders of this denomination were trained. In 1939 a denominational union of American Methodism resulted in the creation of the Methodist Church. Adrian College is affiliated with this great church body.

Adrian College has a pleasant campus a few miles from downtown Adrian. It must be a pretty quiet place to go to school - I didn't see any commercial buildings anywhere close to the campus. There's only one historic 19th century building surviving on the campus, but's it a real beauty: Downs Hall, which is currently the home of the college art gallery as well as a performing space for musical events of various kinds.