These two cabinet cards show Ling Gymnasium in Lindsborg, Kansas. The earlier of the two photos captures the gymnasium under construction; the building was completed in 1895. Ling Gymnasium was an all-wood, sixteen-sided structure built on the campus of Bethany College. It had a seating capacity of 3,500 and was used for athletic and physical education activities. Ling Gymnasium also served as the venue for performances of the Messiah prior to construction of Presser Hall. The gymnasium was named after Per Henrick Ling, noted Swede who pioneered physical education and gymnastics training regimens. Ling Gymnasium was destroyed by fire in 1946.
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