# data[].attributes.body
Construction on the Cove Amphitheater began in the Fall of 1956 and was completed in May of 1957. With a seating capacity of about 1700, this amphitheater was most often used for the showing of plays, such as "The Founders." It is no longer in use at the College today.

# data[].attributes.body
In an observation of this area, I was able to take note of several aspects, including its layout and location. With its three sections of bench-like seating and what looks to be a stage located at its front, I may compare it to several characteristics of the Cove Amphitheater.

# data[].attributes.body
The arrangement of these rusted slots indicates a bench-like seating situation at the now-abandoned amphitheater because, as you can see, the slots are spaced too far apart to be individual seats.

# data[].attributes.body
The amphitheater at William & Mary that is currently in use, known as the Martha Wren Briggs Amphitheater, was constructed in late 1946 and opened in July of 1947, originally able seat nearly 3,000 people. By 1976, its capacity was reduced to 1600, which is about how many people the amphitheater may still seat today. This amphitheater is most often used by the College for events such as concerts or movie screenings. (ADD PHOTO)

# data[].attributes.body
The blueprints, titled "A Preliminary Study for a Natural Ampitheatre," are dated February 23, 1934, several years before the construction of the Cove Amphitheater. This Natural Amphitheater and the Cove Amphitheater show shockingly similar layouts, leading to the hypothesis that these blueprints are very early blueprints for the eventual Cove Amphitheater.

# data[].attributes.body
Through several types of data, ranging from GIS maps to paper maps from Swem's Special Collections, I have been able to narrow down the information in order to determine that the abandoned amphitheater was once known as the Cove Amphitheater.

# data[].attributes.body
The GIS map helps to identify the locations of both the newer and older amphitheaters here at William & Mary. This bird's eye view of the newer Martha Wren Briggs Amphitheater indicates a layout that includes nine sections of seating, as opposed to the three sections of seating that we see in the 'natural amphitheater' layout. This is helpful in narrowing down which amphitheater is the 'old amphitheater'.