Penn State Campus Tour
Architecture, history & things to do near Penn State (Pennsylvania State University)
Why Walk Penn State Campus
Penn State's University Park campus covers over 5,000 acres in State College, Pennsylvania, nestled in the Nittany Valley between Mount Nittany and Tussey Mountain. Old Main, a Victorian Second Empire building completed in 1857 and rebuilt in 1930, anchors the campus with its clock tower. The Mall, a long tree-lined green, stretches west from Old Main past academic buildings. The Nittany Lion Shrine, a 1942 limestone sculpture of a mountain lion, is the most visited landmark on campus. Beaver Stadium, seating over 106,000, creates one of the most intimidating atmospheres in college football ('White Out' games). The Palmer Museum of Art houses a significant collection of American art. The Millennium Science Complex houses interdisciplinary research in materials science and nanofabrication.
About Penn State
Founded
1855 (founded as the Farmers' High School; designated Pennsylvania's land-grant college in 1863)
Type
Public land-grant research university; flagship University Park campus plus a network of Commonwealth Campuses statewide
Setting
The University Park campus sits in State College, central Pennsylvania, a college town in the Nittany Valley roughly 3-4 hours from Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C.
Enrollment
About 47,000 students at the University Park campus; roughly 88,000 across all Penn State campuses
Mascot
The Nittany Lion, inspired by the mountain lions once native to nearby Mount Nittany; the costumed Nittany Lion mascot dates to 1921
Free Penn State Campus Tour with Roamee Pro
Roamee Pro offers a free Penn State campus tour with audio narration. Explore Old Main, Nittany Lion Shrine, Beaver Stadium, plus hidden spots like The Arboretum at Penn State and Berkey Creamery, at your own pace without booking a group tour.
explore by interest
Must-See Spots at Penn State
- •Old Main — the 1930 Second Empire administration building with a central clock tower, rebuilt on the site of the 1863 original
- •Nittany Lion Shrine — the iconic 1942 limestone mountain lion sculpture, the most photographed spot on campus
- •Beaver Stadium — a 106,000-seat football stadium that creates one of the loudest environments in college sports during 'White Out' games
- •HUB-Robeson Center — the student union building with galleries, performance spaces, and dining, the social hub of campus
Signature Architecture
- •Old Main — Limestone administration building completed in 1930 on the site of the original 1863 stone structure; the lobby holds the Land-Grant Frescoes painted by Henry Varnum Poor (1940 and 1949).
- •Beaver Stadium — Football stadium seating roughly 106,000, one of the largest in the U.S.; expanded repeatedly since 1960 and named for former Pennsylvania governor and university trustee James A. Beaver.
- •Pattee and Paterno Libraries — Pattee Library opened in 1940; the adjoining Paterno Library, funded partly by coach Joe Paterno, opened in 2000.
- •Palmer Museum of Art — Free university art museum that reopened in 2024 in a new building at The Arboretum at Penn State after relocating from its former Curtin Road site.
Hidden Corners of Penn State
- •The Arboretum at Penn State — a 370-acre botanical garden with themed gardens, an overlook pavilion, and walking trails through woods
- •Berkey Creamery — Penn State's on-campus ice cream operation, run by food science students and one of the largest university creameries in the nation
Notable Alumni
- •Paul Berg, Nobel laureate in Chemistry
- •Keegan-Michael Key, actor and comedian
- •Ty Burrell, actor
- •Guion Bluford, first African American in space
- •William Schreyer, former Merrill Lynch CEO
- •Franco Harris, NFL Hall of Fame running back
Campus Traditions
- •THON, the student-run IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, a 46-hour no-sitting, no-sleeping event at the Bryce Jordan Center that raises tens of millions of dollars annually for pediatric cancer through Four Diamonds
- •The 'We Are... Penn State' call-and-response chant, often led at football games
- •White Outs at Beaver Stadium, where fans wear all white for a designated home game
- •Eating a Berkey Creamery ice cream cone, made on campus by the university's dairy program
Where to Eat Near Campus
- •Berkey Creamery on campus for ice cream made from the university's own dairy program
- •The Diner on West College Avenue, a State College institution known for its 'grilled stickies' sweet rolls
- •Champs, a downtown bar and grill on College Avenue popular on game days
- •Irving's on Allen Street for bagels and sandwiches
- •Cafe 210 West, a longtime student patio bar and grill on College Avenue
Did you know? Penn State runs its own creamery and a long-standing Ice Cream Short Course; Ben & Jerry's founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield took the course (by correspondence) before launching their company.
Visiting Penn State
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions runs scheduled campus visits with information sessions and student-led walking tours; register in advance through the admissions website, as dates and capacity vary. Self-guided and online tour options are available year-round. The HUB-Robeson Center, the main student union, is a good starting point. Visitor parking is available in the Nittany Parking Deck and other pay decks near campus; most campus lots require permits on weekdays, so check the visitor parking map ahead of time.
Walking Tip
The campus is vast — start at Old Main, walk the Mall westward, then visit the Lion Shrine. Beaver Stadium is on the east edge (a 20-minute walk from the center). The CATA bus system connects the campus.
Best Time to Visit
Fall for football and mountain foliage (October). Spring for blooming campus. State College is a true college town — its energy comes from the university calendar. Summers are quiet and beautiful in the valley.
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