Nittany Lion Shrine - The Lion Everyone Lines Up For

A stop on Penn State University Park Campus Walk, a free self-guided tour.

Tucked among the trees near Rec Hall, the crouching Nittany Lion is the campus photo everyone wants. The Class of 1940 gave it as their senior gift, and it was dedicated during homecoming on October 24, 1942. Sculptor Heinz Warneke designed it, and stone carver Joseph Garatti worked with him to cut it from a single 13-ton block of Indiana limestone.

The Nittany Lion comes from Mount Nittany, the ridge you can see from parts of campus, and a mountain lion was chosen as the school mascot in the early 1900s. Legend says the lion will roar if a certain kind of student walks by; treat that as campus folklore.

The Shrine has had a rough life. Rival students painted it orange before a 1966 game, and its right ear has broken off more than once. Since the 1970s, students have guarded it before big home games. Wait your turn, then climb up beside the lion for your picture.

Getting here: Head west along Curtin Road or the walks behind the library, about 5 minutes, toward Rec Hall; the Shrine sits in a grove of trees beside it.

Did you know?: In 1966 Syracuse students painted the lion orange before a game, and Penn State students had it sandblasted clean by game day.

Photo op: Kneel a few steps in front of the lion and shoot slightly upward so its head stands out against the trees; early morning brings the shortest line.

More on Wikipedia: Nittany Lion Shrine · Heinz Warneke · Nittany Lion · Mount Nittany

Nittany Lion Shrine - The Lion Everyone Lines Up For

Stops on this tour