In 1859, when the first students arrived at what was then called The Farmers’ High School of Pennsylvania, Penn State’s University Park campus and surrounding town looked much different than they do today.  

This photo gallery shows views that students and visitors to the campus might have seen in the mid to late 1800s. 

The original “Old Main” served as the institution’s main building, housing the entire college including classrooms, offices and living quarters in its west wing. Construction on the east wing, which wasn’t yet completed by the time students arrived in 1859, was paused at the start of the Civil War and completed in 1863. Other campus facilities at the time included blacksmith and carpenter shanties — one which temporarily served as a dining hall — the college barn, a granary, and several faculty residences and other outbuildings. The main building was the only building on campus for nearly 30 years. It became known as “Old Main” c. 1906. 

The first major building program was launched in 1887 due to maintenance funds provided through the first biennial state appropriation of $100,000. Plans began to construct: 

• Agricultural Experiment Station, which opened in 1887. Students and researchers used the station to perform soil tests; analyze fertilizers; identify plants, insects and fungi; and report on samples of various agricultural products. In 1975 the building was renamed Arts Cottage and still exists today, housing studios for art students and faculty in the College of Arts and Architecture. 

• Old Botany, which was completed in 1888 and still stands today as the oldest building at University Park whose exterior has not been significantly altered since its construction. The building was the original home to the institution’s botany department, and in the late 1800s and early 1900s had an attached greenhouse where students conducted studies on exotic plants. Students also kept a botanical garden, arranged in a series of geometric patterns in front of the building along Pollock Road. 

• The Women’s Building, which was also known as Ladies’ Cottage and completed in 1889. The building, which was north of Old Main where Oswald Tower is presently located, was the primary residence hall for women students. The building was later used as temporary office space until its demolition in 1970. 

• The Armory, which was completed in 1892 and served as the site for military training. Prior to World War I, participation in the Cadet Corps was mandatory for all physically able male undergraduates. The Armory was also used for physical education, varsity athletics and social events. The building was demolished in 1964 to make way for a new wing of Willard Building. 

• The Chemistry and Physical Laboratory, which was completed in 1890 and renamed Walker Laboratory in 1948 for William Hulk Walker, a graduate of 1890 and head of the Chemical Engineering Department. The building was demolished in 1969 and replaced by the existing Davey Laboratory. 

• Faculty Cottages, which served as on-campus residences for instructors as part of faculty compensation. 

Other Penn State landmarks on campus before 1900 included:  

• Beaver Field, Penn State’s first permanent home for football, which stood between present-day Osmond and Frear laboratories. It was named after James Beaver, then-governor of Pennsylvania and a member of the Penn State Board of Trustees. The first game at Beaver Field was played on Nov. 6, 1893, against Western University of Pittsburgh (now the University of Pittsburgh). Penn State won 32-0. Beaver Field, which had a seating capacity of 500, was relocated in 1909 to the present location of the Nittany Lion Inn and Nittany Parking Deck and became known as “New Beaver Field.” 

• Old Willow, which was planted on campus by Professor of Horticulture William G. Waring in 1859. The tree quickly captured students’ hearts and has become a longstanding tradition. The original tree fell during a windstorm in 1923, but its offshoots have carried on its legacy over the last 100 years. The fourth-generation Old Willow was planted on the Old Main lawn in April 2024, and saplings were also distributed to Penn State campuses and locations across the commonwealth. 

• The Ghost Walk, which consisted of two rows of trees planted by horticulture professor William Warin in the 1860s. A path between the trees led from the rear of Old Botany to Park Avenue. Popular as a lovers' lane because of its seclusion, the Ghost Walk may have gotten its name from a 19th-century legend about a student who got lost on campus and froze during a blizzard, leading to stories of strange spirits seen at night among the row of trees. A solitary Norway Spruce remains today, standing between Old Botany and Burrowes Building. 

• The Obelisk, also called the polylith, was erected by a local stonemason in 1896 in front of the Armory and currently sits between present-day Willard and Sackett buildings. The monument, which stands more than 32 feet tall and weighs more than 50 tons, is comprised of 281 blocks of building stone from 139 different localities, mostly in Pennsylvania. The stones are arranged to represent the geologic column of rocks in the commonwealth, with the oldest rocks at the bottom and the youngest on top. 

• University House, was built in 1862-1864 using native stone and employing student labor, was designed by Evan Pugh, the institution’s first president. It was remodeled in 1895 and again renovated in 1940, each time with significant additions to the original plans. From 1864 to 1970, University House was home to 11 Penn State presidents. It was designated University House in 1971, to be used for official University functions. University House was incorporated into the Hintz Alumni Center in 1999.

Read more about the history of Penn State's University Park campus on the University Libraries website.