History[]
The Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters is a special institute founded and led by Professor Charles Xavier to train young mutants in controlling their powers and help foster a friendly human-mutant relationship.
Origin[]
In the mid to late 1700s, the land was settled by Charles Graymalkin and his wife Marcia. Little is known about this period, although Charles did bury his son alive after beating him nearly to death, due to finding him having intimate relations with another boy from town.
Xavier Family Home[]
Sometime between the late 1700s and early 1900s, a large Neoclassic mansion was constructed on the land near Breakstone Lake just outside of Salem Center, New York. The estate was inherited by Brian Xavier and he lived there with his wife, Sharon and their son, Charles, until Brian's untimely, accidental death. Charles Xavier was born and raised in the mansion. After Brian's death, Sharon married his once colleague, Dr. Kurt Marko. Marko and his son, Cain lived at the mansion thereafter. Sharon died not long after the marriage, and the ownership of the estate passed on to Charles. Charles is the tenth generation Xavier to own the mansion.
Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters[]
After graduating Oxford University, being drafted in the Korean War, and battling the Shadow King in Cairo, Egypt, Xavier decided to devote his life to protecting humanity from evil mutants and safeguarding innocent mutants from human oppression, believing that both could peacefully coexist. Xavier worked with fellow mutation expert, Dr. Karl Lykos, as well as Dr. Moira MacTaggert, and they began discussing the idea of founding a school for mutants. Before recruiting his first students, a mysterious man calling himself "Cable" arrived at the mansion. In exchange for teaching him about the present, Cable aided Xavier in equipping the mansion with advanced technology.
Professor Xavier's first student was the 11-year-old Jean Grey, who had been traumatized when she telepathically experienced the emotions of a dying friend. Later Xavier met Fred Duncan from F.B.I., who introduced him to a young Scott Summers. Scott soon into the mansion and, over the following months, Xavier recruited other students including Bobby Drake, Warren Worthington III and Hank McCoy. Together they formed the original X-Men.
X-Men and New Mutants[]
More mutants moved into and out of the mansion as the X-Men family grew. The first time the mansion was destroyed, it was during a battle with the Sidri. While the mansion was being rebuilt, the X-Men briefly relocated to an island in the Bermuda Triangle once used by Magneto. When the mansion was rebuild, it with upgraded with Shi'ar technology.
The X-Mansion served as the site for several special occasions, including the marriage of Cyclops and Madelyne Pryor, the birth of their son, Nathan Summers in the kitchen, and later the marriage of Cyclops and Jean Grey.
Eventually a whole new team of New Mutants was enrolled. When Xavier was near-fatally wounded and sent into space to recover with the Shi'ar, he left the care of the school to Magneto. The mansion was later destroyed again, this time by Mr. Sinister. With the mansion left in ruins, the X-Men relocated to Cooterman's Creek in Australia, X-Factor remained in the X-Factor Complex in New York City, and the New Mutants briefly resided on X-Factor's ship before moving into the subterranean levels under the ruins of the mansion under the leadership of Cable.
Upgrade[]
Only after Professor X's return from space, and the reuniting of the X-Men was the mansion rebuilt. To upgrade the mansion's technology, Professor X asked Forge. The upgrades included fitting the Danger Room with hard-light holographic technology, constructing a hangar for a new Blackbird, update Cerebro's software. A war room was also added to the subterranean levels. While installing the upgrades, the Danger Room spoke to Professor X and asked, “Where am I?”. Realizing that the Danger Room had mutated and become sentient, but still needing to train his X-Men, Professor Xavier made the choice to ignore and hide the lifeform. After being attacked by Sentinels, the villain White Queen was left in a coma and cared for in the medical bay.
Xavier Institute for Higher Learning[]
When Emma Frost finally awoke from her coma, she and Banshee decided to convert her Massachusetts Academy into a new "School for Gifted Youngsters" and train Generation X. Professor X agreed to pass on the title while his ancestral home was renamed the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning. While the Massachusetts Academy operated as a training facility for younger mutants, the Institute acted as the headquarters of the X-Men.
During Operation: Zero Tolerance, Bastion forced Jubilee to reveal the Mansion's defenses, then stripped down the mansion, having nearly everything inside removed. After defeating Bastion, the X-Men moved back into the mansion and restocked it. After Scott learned that Cable was his infant son returned from the future an adult, Cyclops offered X-Force a headquarters at the mansion. After finding him hiding from the genocide of his own race superiors, Professor X gave Fiz, an alien Skrull, temporary asylum at the mansion.
Going Public[]
Under the influence of Cassandra Nova, Professor Xavier publicly outed himself as a mutant. After this revelation, the Xavier Institute once again opened its doors to students, this time with a greatly increased enrollment. To house the new students, an X-shaped dormitory was built behind the mansion. Because Cerebro gained a nanotech body and was eventually destroyed, Professor X and Beast created Cerebra to serve as their new mutant tracking, telepathic computer. The school continued to face challenges from outside, such as protesters and the fanatic cult, the U-Men, but they also faced challenges from within, such as a possessed Professor X, a student-led riot, and Xorn forming a new Brotherhood of students and destroying the mansion. Prior to its destruction, Professor X decided that at the end of the term he would step down as Headmaster and pass the reins onto Jean Grey. Unfortunately, Jean died in the confrontation with Xorn.
Redesign[]
After the mansion was destroyed by Xorn posing as Magneto, Professor X left the school to attempt to rebuild Genosha. Cyclops and Emma Frost became co-headmasters and rebuilt the school with a new larger design, using funds from Angel. The student body of the Institute was divided into training squads and assigned an X-Man mentors. After manipulating a student into committing suicide, the sentient Danger Room obtained a body and departed the school.
M-Day[]
In the wake of M-Day, only 27 students retained their mutant powers. Many depowered students left immediately. Emma and Cyclops later arranged to have the remaining depowered students evacuated in secret, for their own protection, but the bus they boarded was attacked and the children were murdered by the Purifiers. After similar bombings, Cyclops ordered the closure of all X-Corp offices globally. All remaining mutants seeking help or shelter were directed to the Institute, and to protect the highest concentration of the world's remaining mutant population, the government placed Sentinels around the mansion piloted by members of the Sentinel Squad O*N*E. The grounds soon became a make shift concentration camp, and the mutants residing in the camp dubbed themselves 198.
All the X-Men Training Squads were disbanded, and the remaining students were pitted against each other to battle for spots on the New X-Men team. However, with most of the X-Men busy on missions and the Danger Room inoperable due to it escaping, Prodigy was motivated to designed the Danger Cave, in the caverns beneath the school, utilizing hard-light hologram technology similar to the Danger Room. The school continued to be attacked by the Marauders, Belasco, Purifiers, and finally by Bishop using nanobots to control the Sentinel Squad O*N*E. They destroyed the mansion. After the final battle for the Messiah Baby and the near-death of Professor Xavier, the X-Men briefly disbanded, relocated to San Francisco and the mansion ruins were left vacant.
The school and grounds lay in ruins for some time. When Cable returned from the future with Hope Summers, they traveled to the site of the school, unaware that it had been destroyed. Finding only ruins, the pair was attacked by Cameron Hodge's Smiley-Face robots. Luckily the X-Men arrived to save the pair.
Jean Grey School for Higher Learning[]
After Wolverine left Utopia, with many of the X-Men, he returned to the ruins of the Xavier Institute to found a new school, Jean Grey School for Higher Learning, in honor of the first student of Professor Xavier.
Headed by Wolverine and Kitty Pryde, this new school shared much of the ideological structure of its predecessor and even admitted an alien Brood. The facility was designed by Beast and incorporated Shi'ar engineering and allowed for Danger Room technology to be utilized in any area of the structure. Additionally, the facility was completely self-sufficient, generating its own power and growing its own food. On the opening day, Beast accidentally left a dimension door open and the campus was infested with inter-dimensional gremlins, called Bamfs.
The school grounds were inhabited by the grandchild of the original Krakoa that asked to join the X-Men after attacking them by the orders of the Hellfire Club.
X-Haven and Xavier Institute for Mutant Education and Outreach[]
Shortly after the beginning of the M-Pox crisis that heavily affected mutantkind, Storm had the Jean Grey School moved to the otherworldly realm of Limbo with the help of Doctor Strange and other sorcerers, in order to protect mutants from the mists, and the growing hatred they were victims of. Once the atmosphere was purified of the mists, the school was returned to its regular dimensional plane. However, instead of returning it to Westchester County, new X-Men leader Kitty Pryde decided to move the school to the middle of Central Park to help its residents gain exposure as part of her plan to consolidate the X-Men as heroes. The mayor agreed to let the X-Men relocate in New York, however, subsequent paperwork led Pryde to be faced with a bill for eighteen million dollars for lease payments and taxes. At this time, the school was renamed to Xavier Institute for Mutant Education and Outreach. It was eventually destroyed by the Horsemen of Salvation.
Graymalkin Habitat
Krakoan Repurposing[]
The school's former grounds and remaining mansion infrastructure were eventually revitalized by Storm who planted Flowers of Krakoa there at the behest of Xavier to create a Krakoan Habitat, a diplomatic biome interconnected to Krakoa's collective consciousness, as well as a Krakoan Gateway, a pathway leading directly to the island of Krakoa in the South Pacific. Eventually, the Sidri arrived at the mansion and turned the habitat into their new nest.
Layout[]
The Xavier Mansion has been destroyed and rebuilt numerous times with varying features. Originally designed as a Neoclassical mansion, the current structure resembles a much more futuristic style.
Grounds[]
The grounds of the Xavier Estate remain largely unchanged. Located outside of Salem Center, the grounds have large open fields, surrounding woods, and a beach on Breakstone Lake. The school grounds are now sentient as they are currently inhabited by the grandchild of the original Krakoa that asked to join the X-Men after attacking them by the orders of the Hellfire Club.
Breakstone Lake[]
Breakstone Lake is a natural, freshwater lake located just east of the main structure.
Boathouse[]
On the edge of Breakstone Lake, a boathouse was constructed. Although the mansion and underground bunker was significantly advanced, the boathouse was simple in design. Used as the newlywed home of Cyclops and Phoenix, the boathouse only contained communication technology, linking it to the mansion and bunker. It is unknown if this structure is still standing.
Cemetery[]
A small cemetery is located on grounds. Several former X-Men (including Jean Grey, Thunderbird, and Banshee) and former students (including Jay Guthrie, Squid-Boy, Jeffrey Garrett, and Wallflower).
Courtyard[]
Located within the courtyard are the baseball court and memorial statue dedicated to the memory of Jean Grey. Previously a swimming pool and a Phoenix-shaped memorial statue were located in the courtyard.
Danger Cave[]
Located in the caverns beneath the ground, the Danger Cave was designed by Prodigy. Utilizing hard-light hologram technology similar to the Danger Room, the Danger Cave served as a place for the New X-Men to train for combat.
Later when Pierce impersonated Cyclops to form the Young X-Men, they used the Danger Cave as headquarters. During this time it served as living quarters and training area.
Hangar Bay[]
The Hangar Bay is an underground area for the storage of the X-Men's aircraft such as the Blackbird, Stratojet and X-Copter. Devil's Rock was originally used as the exit and entry point for the X-Men's aircraft, but since the Mansion's reconstruction, it has been relocated beneath the basketball court. Upon departure and landing, a klaxon will sound warning for anyone nearby to vacate the area. Students are advised to move immediately, once the klaxon sounds.
Morlock Tunnels[]
The grounds have access to the Morlock Tunnels, which are a series of abandoned military tunnels and sewer lines connecting to various locales such as New York City and New Jersey.
Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters[]
The original school was a three story Neoclassical mansion with additional subbasements added.
The ground floor held housed the grand foyer, kitchen, formal dining room, parlor, library, sitting room and Professor X's office. The second floor was private chambers and a study lounge. The basement provided addition storage and a wine cellar. Atop the mansion was a large glass-paneled dome. Because Storm preferred that spacious attic room, it was adapted to her use renovated into a greenhouse.
Below the main structure was locate the subbasements, the true headquarters of the X-Men. Here was housed the training facilities and conference areas used by the X-Men while preparing for field missions. The subbasement was connected to the main structure via hyperlifts.
Cerebra Chamber[]
The mutant locating, telepathic-enhancing super-computer Cerebra was located in a secure chamber.
Danger Room[]
The Danger Room appears to be a featureless room, but in actuality operated as the ultimate battle simulator. It employed highly advanced technologies from sources such as the Shi'ar Empire, Forge, and Beast.
Students were not permitted to be in the Danger Room unless accompanied by an instructor or X-Man.
Holding Cells[]
The holding cells were an underground prison facility for those villains that the X-Men deemed too unsafe to let roam about freely. The holding cells consisted of small titanium-steel cells, with the same type of door. Various safety measures were be taken, such as erecting an internal force field to back up the titanium-steel walls, a nullification field to 'switch off' mutant abilities, and various others. There were also stasis tubes, which held inhabitants in a state of suspended animation until they were awakened.
Medical and Research Labs[]
The labs were usually used by Dr. Henry McCoy and other medically-trained mansion staff. RALPH, the holographic doctor was also installed in the lower-level Medical Lab, in the event that Dr. McCoy or another member of the medical team was unavailable.
War Room[]
The War Room was located near the Danger Room. It was the 'operating center' of the X-Men, where briefings were given, missions were planned, and meetings took place.
Z'nox Chamber[]
A mysterious secret, psi-proof chamber of which only Professor X and a select few knew.
Xavier Institute for Higher Learning[]
After the Professor X was publicly outed as mutant and the school was destroyed by Xorn posing as Magneto, the Xavier Institute was rebuilt as a much large facility under the direction of Co-Headmasters Cyclops and Emma Frost. The new school had more dormitories to house the larger student body, a cafeteria, and additional classrooms. The outlet for the hanger bay was moved from Devil's Rock to underneath a retractable basketball court.
The new school still possessed more traditional features such as a Danger Room, Cerebra Chamber, medical facilities.N
Jean Grey School for Higher Learning[]
After Wolverine left Utopia, with many of the X-Men, he returned to the ruins of the Xavier Institute to found a new school, "Jean Grey School for Higher Learning", in honor of the first student of Professor Xavier.
Headed by Wolverine and Shadowcat, this facility was designed by Beast and incorporated cutting edge Shi'ar engineering. Instead of having a traditional Danger Room, a Danger Room mode is capable of being engaged in any part of the school. The west-wing is an ice-palace constructed by Iceman. The basement houses Beast's lab and the completely self-sufficient power source. The structure also has an indoor swimming pool and free floating towers. The school also has a Cerebra Chamber.
Trivia[]
- The X-Mansion has been destroyed or severely damaged numerous times:
- One Christmas Eve, Kitty Pryde was hunted by a N'Garai demon. She led it on a chase through the mansion, destroying much of the interior in the process in Uncanny X-Men #143.
- It was demolished in a battle with the Sidri in Uncanny X-Men #154.
- It was atomized by Mister Sinister in Uncanny X-Men #243.
- It was heavily damaged by Onslaught in X-Men (Vol. 2) #54.
- It was leveled by Xorn posing as Magneto in New X-Men #147.
- After the the birth of the first mutant since M-Day, it was destroyed by Sentinels in Uncanny X-Men #493.
- Although the X-Mansion has been destroyed or severely damaged numerous times, it was almost always rebuild to resemble the original structure. It wasn't until recently that the X-Mansion received a radical redesign. The school received another extreme makeover when it was reopened as the Jean Grey School.
- Due to her claustrophobia and love of gardening, Storm once resided in the more spacious attic of the original mansion. Since the school was rebuild as the Jean Grey School, Deathlok has moved into the attic and Storm has taken up residency in one of the school's many free floating towers.