The Obelisk, a stone structure built by the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences in 1896, is the oldest monument on Penn State’s University Park campus. It sits between the Willard and Sackett buildings, alongside the Allen Street Mall, not far from Old Main.
The weight of the structure is estimated to be more than 50 tons and it stands more than 32 feet tall. The stonework, done by Michael Womer, a State College resident, is comprised of more than 280 blocks from almost 140 locations. The stones are arranged to represent the geologic column of rocks in Pennsylvania, with the oldest rocks at the bottom and the youngest on top.
Professors T.C. Hopkins and M.C. Ihlseng supervised the Obelisk’s construction as a means to demonstrate weathering properties and the resulting value of Pennsylvania building stones.
For additional information on the Obelisk, go to www.libraries.psu.edu/digital/emsl/obeliskpamphlet.pdf
This Penn State landmark is part of the iHear Penn State self-guided cell phone campus tour, listed as stop #13. Accessing iHear Penn State is easy. Dial the tour access number (814-308-5020) on your cell phone and follow the instructions. All stops are listed at http://ihear.psu.edu/