University of Toronto: Engineering & Architecture Virtual Cache

Welcome to the University of Toronto!

Logging Requirements Recap:

To log this Virtual Geocache as Found, you must answer the following six (6) questions and take three (3) qualifying photos. Please:

• Send me the answers to the six (6) questions via the Message Center or via email
• Refrain from posting the aforementioned answers in your log

• Post in your log, a photo of you/your personal item with each of the three (3) specified buildings.
• Note that you or something personally identifiable to you (e.g. your GPS) must be within the frame of each photo. If you do not wish to show your face, something like a thumbs-up is great!

Cumberland House (Waypoint 1)
❓ (1) Reading the plaques, what are two notable buildings that Frederic W. Cumberland designed, and when were each of these buildings built? (Hint: you'll be visiting one of these buildings as a part of this Virtual Cache!)

Historic Frieze from the Engineering Building (Waypoint 2)
❓ (2A) Fill in the blanks: The frieze was originally above the tower doorway of the Engineering Building, which was affectionately known as "_________". The Engineering Building stood from the year ______ to ______.
❓ (2B) Look up! Many leaves and vines span the frieze. In the center, there are a number of engineering tools. Name at least three of the engineering tools. If you do not know their names, you may describe what they look like.

Transit Pillar from the Toronto Magnetic and Meteorological Observatory (Waypoint 3)
❓ (3) Fill in the blanks: The Magnetic Observatory was the first location in Toronto that had its coordinates determined. Its longitude was determined _________ in the year ______.

Convocation Hall (Waypoint 4)
📷 (4) Take a photo with Convocation Hall at the posted coordinates! (Somewhere on the interlocking stone path is perfect!)

University College (Waypoint 5)
📷 (5) Take a photo with University College at the posted coordinates! (Here as well, anywhere on the interlocking stone path is perfect!)

Stewart Observatory (Waypoint 6)
❓ (6) Fill in the blanks: The Stewart Observatory was built in the year ______. It was constructed with the masonry from the old _________, which was demolished in the year ______.

Soldiers' Tower (Waypoint 7)
❓ (7A) Take the time to view the tower. It is a beautiful commemoration to those who served during World War I and World War II. Please share a feature of the tower that was noteworthy or particularly meaningful to you. You may also share this in your online log if you wish.
📷 (7B) Last but not least, take a photo with the Soldiers' Tower! (If you have a cameraperson, feel free to have them stand at a distance & capture you with the entire tower!)

Without further ado... here's the Engineering & Architecture:

(as well as historic photos and paintings!)

Cumberland House (Waypoint 1)
N 43° 39.563' W 079° 23.778'

The Cumberland House was built in 1860. The house was originally called 'Pendarves', and was the home of Fredric W. Cumberland and his family. As a civil engineer, Cumberland designed many incredible buildings in Toronto - often of Gothic Revival and Norman Romanesque architecture. Today, the Cumberland House holds the Centre for International Experience (CIE) at the University of Toronto, facilitating the opportunity for students to study abroad.

Logging Requirement from the plaques:

❓ (1) Reading the plaques, what are two notable buildings that Frederic W. Cumberland designed, and when were each of these buildings built? (Hint: you'll be visiting one of these buildings as a part of this Virtual Cache!)

Historic Frieze from the Engineering Building (Waypoint 2)
N 43° 39.595' W 079° 23.785'

The posted coordinates will bring you to the Galbraith Building - home to the Civil Engineering Department at the University of Toronto. You will find a plaque commemorating the Engineering Building and a historic frieze originating from the building itself! The photo on this Virtual cache page is of the Engineering Building, which housed the School of Practical Science in the 1800's and early 1900's.

Today, the term 'practical science' is seldom used. In 1906, the School integrated with the University of Toronto to become the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering - and the name remains today!

Logging Requirement from the plaque:

❓ (2A) Fill in the blanks: The frieze was originally above the tower doorway of the Engineering Building, which was affectionately known as "_________". The Engineering Building stood from the year ______ to ______.

Logging Requirement from the frieze:

❓ (2B) Look up! Many leaves and vines span the frieze. In the center, there are a number of engineering tools. Name at least three of the engineering tools. If you do not know their names, you may describe what they look like.

Transit Pillar from the Toronto Magnetic and Meteorological Observatory (Waypoint 3)
N 43° 39.626' W 079° 23.690'

Remaining today is the Transit Pillar of the old Toronto Magnetic and Meteorological Observatory, which is no longer standing. Construction finished in 1853, and the building's original purpose was to observe changes in Earth's magnetic field. Its capabilities were expanded to serve as Canada's primary meteorological station, official timekeeper for over fifty years, and to observe the cosmos. In fact, the observatory is considered to be the birthplace of Canadian astronomy!

Logging Requirement from the plaque:

❓ (3) Fill in the blanks: The Magnetic Observatory was the first location in Toronto that had its coordinates determined. Its longitude was determined _________ in the year ______.

Convocation Hall (Waypoint 4)
N 43° 39.655' W 079° 23.704'

Convocation Hall was built between the years 1904 and 1907. The architects were influenced by the Edwardian Baroque revival in architecture, with an emphasis on symmetry, geometry, and uniformity. The building is circular - or radial - in its construction, which served as a metaphorical centre and physical centre of the University of Toronto as it expanded in the early 1900s.

Today, lectures, speeches, and ceremonies are held in the hall. When students graduate from the University of Toronto, the graduation ceremony occurs in Convocation Hall - it's a celebration of students' accomplishments, and of their friends, family, & everyone who supported them in their academic pursuits!

Logging Requirement:

📷 (4) Take a photo with Convocation Hall at the posted coordinates! (Somewhere on the interlocking stone path is perfect!)

University College (Waypoint 5)
N 43° 39.746' W 079° 23.727'

Built from 1856 to 1859, the architectural style of University College is truly unique. Originally designed as a Gothic structure, direction changed numerous times to Italian, Byzantine Revival, Norman, and Romanesque Revival... the only thing consistent was a focus on a style that was "fitting for educational institutions". The building was supported by the government as the Provincial College and as a non-denominational institute - free of religious affiliation.

Today, University College houses multiple academic programs including Canadian studies, cognitive science, and drama. It is also home to the Laidlaw Library - one of the many libraries at the University of Toronto.

Logging Requirement:

📷 (5) Take a photo with University College at the posted coordinates! (Here as well, anywhere on the interlocking stone path is perfect!)

Stewart Observatory (Waypoint 6)
N 43° 39.792' W 079° 23.687'

The Stewart Observatory (seen left-of-centre in the above painting) was built to support the academic programs of Louis Beaufort Stewart - the professor of surveying, geodesy, and practical astronomy in the Department of Civil Engineering. You can see the observatory's dome at the top, however it no longer opens or holds a telescope. The observatory temporarily houses the construction office of a contractor for the University of Toronto - but in normal times, it houses the University of Toronto Student's Union.

With the work done in surveying and geodesy, society learned much about the Earth and set the stage for Geocaching today!

Logging Requirement from the plaque:

❓ (6) Fill in the blanks: The Stewart Observatory was built in the year ______. It was constructed with the masonry from the old _________, which was demolished in the year ______.

Soldiers' Tower (Waypoint 7)
N 43° 39.807' W 079° 23.712'

With construction completed in 1924, the Soldiers' Tower serves as a war memorial to commemmorate members of the University of Toronto who served in the World Wars. The names of those lost in World War I (1914-1918) and World War II (1939-1945) are etched in sheltered areas at the tower's base and under the archways. Features of the tower include a clock, a carillon of 51 bells, and beautiful stained-glass windows. The bells of the Soldiers' Tower are rung for special occasions such as convocation, reunions, and Remembrance Day. And notably, the historic photo on this cache page is of the two minute silence observed on Remembrance Day (November 11) 1924.

Logging Requirements:

❓ (7A) Take the time to view the tower. It is a beautiful commemoration to those who served during World War I and World War II. Please share a feature of the tower that was noteworthy or particularly meaningful to you. You may also share this in your online log if you wish.

📷 (7B) Last but not least, take a photo with the Soldiers' Tower! (If you have a cameraperson, feel free to have them stand at a distance & capture you with the entire tower!)

Virtual Rewards 2.0 - 2019/2020

This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between June 4, 2019 and June 4, 2020. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 2.0 on the Geocaching Blog.