Philanthropy has been the driving force in the creation, sustainment and growth of The Arboretum at Penn State, not only in relation to its size but also its program offerings. A new fund established in honor of Dr. Kim Steiner, recently retired founding director of the Arboretum, is the latest example of how philanthropy continues to positively impact the gardens.
There’s plenty of buildings that take up the sights outside at Penn State, but what about the other structures? The statues? The sculptures?
You’ll come to find that there’s actually plenty of both around campus, too. But how much do you know about the history behind them? Probably not much. That’s where we come in, folks.
Without further ado, let’s get into some of the statues and sculptures.
Old Main Armillary Sphere
Known to some as the “Old Main Turtle,” this sphere is a gift from the Class of 1966. It’s an armillary sphere an instrument used to show the position of the sun when it’s rising and setting. The astronomical tool’s origins originally date back all the way to the 4th century when it was created by Chinese astronomers.