Crouse College, also known as Crouse Memorial College and historically as John Crouse Memorial College for Women, is a building on the Syracuse University campus. It was funded by John R. Crouse, a wealthy Syracuse merchant (principal donation) with the White family (bankers, secondary doners), and designed by Archimedes Russell. It is built in the Romanesque revival—Richardsonian Romanesque style. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. It is also one of the historical Comstock Tract buildings on the Syracuse campus. It currently houses Syracuse University's College of Visual and Performing Arts. Chiefly, its classrooms and auditorium are at the service of the Setnor School of Music. History Crouse College was home to the first College of Fine Arts in the United States and now is known for both its College of Visual and Performing Arts and the Rose, Jules R., and Stanford S. Setnor School of Music. Construction The first cornerstone for the new college was laid in June 1888, and the building was completed in September 1889 by the Norcross Brothers of Massachusetts at the cost of $500,000 dollars. It was a gift from local merchant and banker, John Crouse. The elder Crouse was a trustee of the university and built the college as a memorial to his late wife. The university originally announced that it will be dedicated on June 22, but Mr. Crouse showed displeasure that the building would be dedicated before completion and Chancellor Sims backed down, with dedication taking place on September 18, 1889. The architect, Archimedes Russell, was not restricted as to cost by the donor, and cost exceeded the planned budget. At the time of construction, it was the third building on campus and the highest structure in the city. It was built in the Romanesqueue Revival style "with High Victorian Gothic qualities." The structure is supported by a "stout" granite foundation and the exterior is covered with Longmeadow brownstone. Architectural details include high roofs, gables, dormer windows and rounded arches. The interior is "distinctively" Romanesque and carved hardwood woodwork designs, representative of the period, are displayed throughout. The building was intended for use as a women's college and was originally named the John Crouse Memorial College for Women; however, John Crouse died during its construction and his son D. Edgar Crouse opened the institution for use by both men and women. Restoration The Crouse College underwent