University Hall was one of the original three buildings of Purdue University when it first opened in 1874. It has stood at the center of the Purdue campus for over 150 years as the university has expanded around it. The founder of Purdue, John Purdue, requested before his death to be buried in front of University Hall and for the building to remain intact forever. As a result, University Hall still stands today as an important historical building at the heart of Purdue University.