The weathervane was commissioned by Penn State Trustee Joel Myers, founder and president of State College-based AccuWeather, Inc. It measures 10 feet in length, three feet in width, and nine feet in height, and tips the scales at 2000 pounds.

“We believe this to be the second-largest working weathervane in the world,” said Kathy Tackabury, spokesperson for Travis Tuck.

The weathervane was hand built of 1/8-inch copper plate utilizing repousse, a traditional folk art technique of metalwork also used to construct the Statue of Liberty. The armature that supports the actual sculpture is made of stainless steel and weighs more than 700 pounds. The mechanism that will allow Penn State fans to gauge wind direction at the stadium is a combination of stainless steel ball and roller bearings.

            The pattern for the sculpture was created using a four-foot plaster of paris casting of the Nittany Lion made from a mold provided by Penn State. Using this model, sculptors Travis Tuck and Anthony Holand created 100 pattern pieces that enabled a proportionate recreation of the lion.

            Travis Tuck has designed original commissioned pieces in 43 states and 12 countries over a period of 34 years. He is best known as a sculptor of fine custom weathervanes, with a clientele that includes President and Mrs. Clinton, movie producer Steven Spielberg, former U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg, and entertainers James Taylor and Carly Simon.

            The Nittany Lion weathervane will be transported from Martha’s Vineyard via flatbed trailer on Tuesday, July 31, with installation scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. on Thursday, August 2, weather-permitting.

            The weathervane is a symbolic addition to the $93 million Beaver Stadium expansion and renovation project, tying together the University’s strong athletic tradition with its world-renowned meteorology program. The department, perennially ranked No. 1 in the nation, prepares the daily weather report for The New York Times and other media outlets. In addition, a recent survey found that one of every four meteorologists in the United States is a Penn State graduate.

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Contacts:  Tysen Kendig, Department of Public Information (814) 865-7517 or tysen@psu.edu
Kathy Tackabury, Travis Tuck Metal Sculptor (888) 693-3914 or Travis@TravisTuck.com