Washington College, Maryland’s oldest and the only private college on the Eastern Shore, was chartered in 1782 and named after George Washington with his permission and support. The original building on this site, an impressively large Georgian structure, was completed in 1789 but burned in 1827. Classes were held in various Chestertown buildings until this building was constructed. Sparsely ornamented, the Greek Revival building rises three stories and is topped by a cupola. Boarding students lived in the attic rooms, with lecture halls below. Ten years later Middle Hall was joined by East and West Halls to either side. Middle Hall is the largest of the three similar buildings that stand on a low rise at one end of the campus green and now serve as dormitories.