Now that 2008 is heading into its last quarter, some Ohio eyes are already looking ahead anxiously to 2009, and to the celebration of important anniversaries.

One such celebration will occur in Oxford, where Miami University will celebrate its 200th anniversary.  In preparation, last week the university launched its special Bicentennial website, which showcases the history of the seventh-oldest state-assisted university in the United States.  The website details the school’s past, provides a look at important documents related to Miami history, provides a venue for visitors to post their own memories and photos of campus, and looks forward with a profile of strategic goals.  It also discusses the construction of a new Bicentennial Student Center.

Miami University has a rich history in Ohio, including being the alma mater of a United States President, Benjamin Harrison.  At one point before the Civil War, Miami was the fourth-largest university in the country, after Harvard, Yale and Dartmouth.  The college was also the home for three of the oldest Greek campus fraternities, including Sigma Chi (founded in 1855).

Last year, Miami received a $90,000 grant from the Getty Foundation to conduct a study and create a historic preservation plan for older campus buildings.  Several buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including Elliot, Stoddard and Peabody Halls, and buildings on the campus of the former Western College for Women.  It is also the location for the William Homes McGuffey Museum, a National Historic Landmark.  McGuffey, famed for his Eclectic Readers, taught at Miami.

Photo: Peabody Hal, Miami University, listed on the National Register of Historic Places - Brandon Cirillo/Creative Commons License