Hemenway Gymnasium

Main Hall, Hemenway Gymnasium - circa 1880's
The original Hemenway Gymnasium, which was completed in 1878, was the finest physical education facility ever created.

It contained every manner of physical training equipment: climbing ladders, tumbling mats, climbing ropes, flying rings, barbells, dumbbells, indian clubs, medicine balls... even early strength building "machines."

There was a running track, handball courts and rooms for fencing, wrestling, boxing and any other imaginable physical activity.

At the head of this fantastic gym was Dudley Allen Sargent, who virtually founded the discipline of physical education (more on him at a later date.)

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