Columbia College Buildings, City of New York

Columbia College buildings in the City of New York seen from the 49th Street side of the College site. The library is on the right. Illustration by C. Graham, published in the Harper's New Monthly Magazine, November, 1884. Source: New York Public Library.

King’s College, founded in 1754, was renamed Columbia College in 1784. In 1857, the College moved from its former site at Park Place to this site between Madison and Fourth avenues (now Park Avenue), and 49th and 50th streets. It was the site of the old New York Institution for the Deaf and Dumb at 50th Street and Madison Avenue.

In 1896, the College moved to its present location in Morningside Heights and the trustees officially authorized the use of the name Columbia University.