“The Politician’s Barracks”

Students like Hanna Hall for its prime south-campus location—it’s one of the two historic residence halls flanking Old Kenyon. (Leonard Hall is the other.) But some also savor the building’s personal story. Hanna was built (in 1902-03) with funds provided by Marcus Alonzo “Mark” Hanna, the millionaire Ohio industrialist and political “kingmaker” who bankrolled and managed the presidential campaign of William McKinley—and who served as a U.S. senator himself, from 1897 until his death in 1904. Hanna wanted to call his residence hall “The Politician’s Barracks,” but the name never caught on with students. Hanna houses independent students as well as the members of two fraternities (Delta Phi and Phi Kappa Sigma) and a coed group, the Archon Society.

Hanna Hall factoid: A first-floor room in Hanna was used as the character Zibby’s dorm room in the film Liberal Arts (2012), which was written and directed by Kenyon alumnus Josh Radnor (Class of 1996), who also starred in the film. Radnor is best known as the star of the TV show How I Met Your Mother.

Accessibility Rating : 3

Accessible entrance and entry ways, no accessible restrooms. Upper floors are inaccessible.