The University of Connecticut was founded in 1881, originally as an agricultural college. Today's its location about 30 miles (50 kilometers) from Hartford is evident of its past as strictly a school for farming students, and the school prides itself only only on the incredible men's and women's basketball teams, but also its Dairy Bar where premium ice creams are made and their high academic standards. The architecture is reminiscent of early 20th-century colleges, with gorgeous Gothic buildings alongside the modern facilities of the Co-Op, Gampel Pavilion and the newly designed science lab. UConn is one of New England's top-ranked public universities and is worth the trip to the serene countryside for a basketball game, see a show at the Jorgensen Center or some sightseeing in fall when the leaves are changing.