Old Main Thru the Turtle
by Dawn Gari
Title
Old Main Thru the Turtle
Artist
Dawn Gari
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Old Main, originally called "Main Building" was first building of major significance on the Penn State campus. Completed in 1863 it took six years to build and was designed the structure to contain classrooms, laboratories, offices, a chapel, and residential space for 400 students. The limestone used to build the structure was quarried from the land directly in front of it, and was carried in part by a mule named Old Coaly, whose bones were subsequently preserved. In 1920 it was deemed structurally unsound and was torn down in 1929 and rebuilt in 1930. The new building, occupying the same footprint as the previous structure and incorporating some of its limestone, was christened "Old Main". The renovations cost $837,000. The bell in the tower was a gift from the 1904 graduating class. The class of 1937 gifted the Westminster chimes and remained until 1970. 1993 saw to the instillation of digital chimes which ring over the campus today. Old Main now serves as the administrative center of Penn State, housing the offices of the president and other officials.
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August 18th, 2013
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