Nittany Lion Shrine

Take a look into the journey of Penn State’s Nittany Lion Shrine, from conception to modern renovations and repairs, and explore the traditions that have shaped this iconic symbol. Click through to discover the story behind one of Penn State’s most beloved landmarks.

Although difficult to imagine, for most of Penn State’s history, there has been no Lion Shrine as we know it today. While there was spirit and pride, there was not yet a sculpture to capture it. One of the earliest iterations of the Nittany Lion was actually made from paper mâché. | University Park, 1910

A 13-ton block of Indiana limestone, which would later become the Nittany Lion Shrine, was loaded off the back of a flatbed truck onto a wooden platform. | University Park, 1942

Artist Heinz Warneke used a plaster model of the Nittany Lion Shrine to help him carve the limestone for the permanent sculpture. | University Park, 1942

Joseph Garratti, Heinz Warneke's assistant, roughs out the shape of the Lion Shrine. | University Park, 1942

Artist Heinz Warneke working on the base of the Nittany Lion Statue. He worked for four months in front of the public and students on campus. (Credit: L.S. Rhodes) | University Park, 1942

While beloved, the statue has known its share of controversy. The Nittany Lion Shrine's first recorded damage happened in 1944, when an unknown individual or group wrote "Hepcat" on its side, referencing a dated term that reflected the hipster-esque subculture that existed among the ‘40s jazz scene. | University Park, 1944

Beginning in the late 1960s, guarding the Nittany Lion Shrine became a time-honored tradition during homecoming weekend to protect the landmark from rival universities. Today, Lion Ambassadors and accompanying ROTC volunteers continue the tradition at a lively celebration following the homecoming parade. | University Park

In November 1978, Heinz Warneke, then 83, returned to his beloved statue to make repairs to the right ear. | University Park

The Nittany Lion as Penn State’s mascot originated with Harrison D. "Joe" Mason all the way back in 1907. Since Penn State lacked a mascot, Mason fabricated the Nittany Lion, the "fiercest beast of them all," who could overcome even Princeton’s Bengal tiger. Here, Norm Constantine, who was the Nittany Lion Mascot from 1978 to 1980, poses in costume next to the statue.

The Nittany Lion Shrine area was renovated, as a gift from the class of 2012, to improve accessibility, adding lighting, a sidewalk, and large decorative stones. | University Park

Curtis McCartney, a stone sculptor with McKay Lodge Conservation Laboratory, examines the recently repaired left ear of the Nittany Lion Shrine. | University Park, 2022