The cornerstone of Morrill Hall, the first building on the University of Nevada, Reno campus, was laid on Sept. 12, 1885.

The original plans called for a two-story building at the cost of no more than $20,000 (about $700,000 in today's dollars). When the three-story Morrill Hall was completed in 1886, it came in under budget at $13,500 (about $480,000 today).

At the time, it housed the entire university — classrooms, offices, library and all. It's still standing, serving as the home of UNR's development and alumni relations department.

But if one vote had flipped in the Nevada Legislature in 1885, the university instead would have moved to Carson City.

And it was a Carson City senator that cast the deciding vote not to move the campus to the state capital.

University of Nevada's 11-ye

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