Memorial Hall

http://danielcecilwrd.blogspot.com/2014/09/commonwealth-stadium-commonwealth.html?showComment=1410364227396#c780604471983959177

This is a photograph of the building Memorial Hall.  The picture itself came form a trip advisor website, but the building represents much more than that.  This building is central to the University of Kentucky’s campus and is hard to miss when walking throughout the grounds.  I myself stumbled upon this building multiple times in passing.  Each and every time I pass or enter this building its beauty strikes me. 

 Memorial Hall was built in 1929 as a tribute to the many lost lives in World War I.  Currently, Memorial Hall is used for large lecture classes and some smaller performance.  The amphitheater in the back provides the location for many smaller events, as well as a place for students to casually lounge in between classes.  This building is so iconic to the university that it is in fact the building used in our logo:

Another part of this building that is very unique is its lobby, which features a large fresco painting.  It was completed by UK graduate Ann Rice O’Hanlon in 1934 and is one of the few genuine frescos in the United States.  It is a magnificent piece of art that depicts the history of Kentucky and Lexington in the early twentieth century. 

While my research on Memorial Hall has answered some of my questions and shed light on things i had not previously thought of, i still have many questions.  First of all, why did they decide to determine a building to be the memorial for the lost lives?  Most of the time organizations will simply have a statue built in their honor.  Why was this different?  Secondly, I am now overly curious about Ann Rice O'Hanlon.  Who was she?  What made her decide to go with a fresco?  Why did she paint history of Lexington when the building is primarily for World War I?  I am desparatly want to see her work in person now.