We Are... Penn State
Pennsylvania State University
Charles Klauder designed both Rec Hall, which opened in 1929, and the rebuilt Old Main, finished in 1930.
- 4Buildings
- 2Traditions
- 1929Oldest · Rec Hall
- 2024Newest · Palmer Museum of Art
Campus map and Look Around
Tap a numbered pin to see that building from the street with Apple Look Around.
Planning the visit
- Fly intoState College Regional Airport (SCE)
State College Regional Airport, called University Park Airport until 2023, is the nearest airport.
- Getting aroundWalking / CATA buses
CATA runs the fare-free Blue Loop, White Loop and Red Link on campus, and community routes to the rest of State College.
- Colors and teams
The school colors are blue and white, and the teams are the Nittany Lions.
4 buildings to stamp
-
Photo: Dough4872, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Old Main
Penn State University Park, PA 16802
The first Main Building was completed in 1863. Charles Klauder's Federal Revival rebuilding, with its clock tower, was finished in 1930 and holds the president's office.
- Built
- 1930
- Architect
- Charles Klauder
- Style
- Federal Revival
- Stories
- 4
- Today
- Administration Building
-
Photo: Offonvictory, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Rec Hall
Curtin Rd, University Park, PA 16802
Charles Klauder, who also designed the Palestra in Philadelphia, chose a Georgian design for this field house, opened in 1929. The gymnastics, volleyball and wrestling teams still compete here.
- Built
- 1929
- Architect
- Charles Klauder
- Style
- Georgian
- Today
- Field House
-
Palmer Museum of Art
650 Bigler Rd, University Park, PA 16802
Allied Works designed the museum's new home in the Arboretum, opened in 2024. Its linked pavilions are clad in regional sandstone with perforated stainless steel sunscreens.
- Built
- 2024
- Architect
- Allied Works
- Style
- Modern
- Today
- Art Museum
-
Photo: Stilfehler, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Eisenhower Auditorium
Penn State University Park, PA 16802
Built from 1971 to 1973 to a plan by consultants Sanders & Bicksler and Bolt Beranek and Newman, this Brutalist-inspired hall opened in 1974. It was first named University Auditorium.
- Built
- 1974
- Architect
- Sanders & Bicksler (plan)
- Style
- Brutalist
- Today
- Performing Arts Venue
2 traditions to check off
Stamped! keeps these as a checklist, so you can tick each one off on the visit.
Nittany Lion Shrine
Heinz Warneke's limestone lion, dedicated in 1942, is the most photographed spot on campus. Many students take a photo here on their first day and again before graduation.
Berkey Creamery
The university's creamery, whose ice cream short course dates back to 1892, sells its own ice cream in the Food Science Building. Stop in for a cone.
Know Pennsylvania State University well?
Students and alumni know the traditions best. Suggest one we're missing, a building worth a stamp, or a fix. Every suggestion is checked against a source before it goes into the app.
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Stamp all 4 on your visit.
Tour Pennsylvania State University in 3D before you go, add it to a college road trip and earn a passport stamp at every building. Free on iPhone and iPad.
Download on theApp Store