LOUISVILLE, Ky. — April 3 marks 225 years since the University of Louisville came to be, otherwise known as "Founders Day."

It all started back in 1798 when eight people — Richard Clough Anderson, Alexander S. Bullitt, William Croghan, John Thruston, William Taylor, James Meriwether, Henry Churchill and John Thompson — decided they wanted to create an institution called Jefferson Seminary.

After attempts at fundraising efforts, Jefferson Seminary officially opened in 1813, with tuition first starting out at $20. It offered a curriculum with English, French, Latin, Greek, geography and trigonometry, according to UofL. 

The Jefferson Seminary closed for good in 1827, but then in 1837, the city created the Louisville Medical Institute and the Louisville Collegiate Institute — which eventually changed its name to Louisville College, according ot UofL. The two institutes were combined in 1846, and a law school was added, creating the University of Louisville. 

It became one of the first public universities that was owned by a city in the nation.

“I am thrilled to help celebrate 225 years of Cardinal pride,” UofL President Kim Schatzel said. “Today, the influence of modern-day UofL stretches through this city, this region and around the world. We couldn’t be more proud of our more than 163,000 alumni who planted the roots of their vocations on our campuses and have gone on to make significant contributions to society.”

To celebrate, there will be a Founders Day tailgate at a spring football game on Friday, April 21. There will also be Grad Day at the Downs, which is an event for graduates and alumni, on Thursday, May 11.