Introduction

Mascots

Aerial Maps

When the Florida Legislature authorized the establishment of the University of Central Florida, it was without a definite plan for the location of the university other than “East Central Florida”.  Several sites were proposed and the selection was quickly narrowed down to Orange or Seminole County.

Fran Adamucci, a New Jersey contractor, offered to donated half of his property, if the state would purchase the other half. With additional land purchases, the total area for the campus would be 1,227 acres. In 1965, 89 Central Florida citizens collectively guaranteed a bank loan of $1 million for the purchase of the land and this historic occasion is celebrated at UCF’s annual Founders Day, usually held in early April.

The groundbreaking ceremonies for the University of Central Florida campus were held on March 19, 1967 and construction had begun that January.  Signifying the new university’s importance to the Florida community, the groundbreaking ceremonies were attended by state and local politicians, as well as members of the Central Florida community.  Over 3,000 attended the event, including the class of the Little Princess Kindergarten — all potential members of UCF’s class of 1984!

Aerial view of land in east Orange County that would eventually became the UCF campus.  When the University was founded in 1963, FTU, or Florida Technological University, as it was then named, was envisioned as a leading technological university to rival MIT or Cal Tech.  Although the University quickly achieved excellence in its engineering and computer science programs, at the close of the university’s first decade, it was apparent that there was more to the University than just technology.   In 1979 President Colbourn, the University’s second president, worked with the BOR to change the University’s name.  University of Central Florida was chosen to reflect the broad scope of the University’s educational mission.		Governor Claude R. Kirk, Jr. does the honors during groundbreaking March 19, 1967 at the sandy site that was to become UCF.  On hand to lend their moral support are Louis Murray, M. D., left; local members of the Florida Board of Regents; Chester R. Ferguson, Regents chairman; and University President Charles N. Millican, right.