Campus Life

In photos: Gathering at 'The Wall'

Popular University Park landmark was gift from class of 1915

The stone wall that runs between the University Park campus and College Avenue in downtown State College has been a popular gathering place and resting spot for students since it was installed as a gift from the class of 1915. The wall draws more people to sit on it toward the end of the spring semester, when seasonal temperatures arrive. The below gallery of photos show ‘The Wall’ throughout the years.

An early picture of 'The Wall,' which is undated but likely to have been taken between 1915 and 1920, when College Avenue is reported to have been paved. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

Soldiers-to-be relax at front campus before swearing in during WWII. From a special issue of La Vie, published by the war classes of 1944, 1945 and 1946. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

Two individuals — likely landscape maintenance workers based on the tools in the picture — lean against "The Wall" in the early 1950s. Notice the style of automobiles on College Avenue in the right side of the picture. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

Members of the Hat Society Council meet at "The Wall" in front of Old Main, c. 1955. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

From the 1969 La Vie. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

The caption on the back of this picture says it appeared in the 1973 La Vie, but the photo was likely taken decades earlier based on the style of clothing. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

From the 1975 La Vie. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

From the 1984 La Vie. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

Students sit on "The Wall" that runs along College Avenue in this undated photo. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

From the 1984 La Vie. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

From the 1985 La Vie. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

From the 1986 La Vie. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

An early picture of 'The Wall,' which is undated but likely to have been taken between 1915 and 1920, when College Avenue is reported to have been paved. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

Soldiers-to-be relax at front campus before swearing in during WWII. From a special issue of La Vie, published by the war classes of 1944, 1945 and 1946. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

Two individuals — likely landscape maintenance workers based on the tools in the picture — lean against "The Wall" in the early 1950s. Notice the style of automobiles on College Avenue in the right side of the picture. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

Members of the Hat Society Council meet at "The Wall" in front of Old Main, c. 1955. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

From the 1969 La Vie. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

The caption on the back of this picture says it appeared in the 1973 La Vie, but the photo was likely taken decades earlier based on the style of clothing. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

From the 1975 La Vie. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

From the 1984 La Vie. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

Students sit on "The Wall" that runs along College Avenue in this undated photo. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

From the 1984 La Vie. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

From the 1985 La Vie. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

From the 1986 La Vie. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons

Last Updated April 23, 2024

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