The Purdue Memorial Union At 99

Next year one of my favorite buildings on campus turns 100. I might photograph this building more than any other. When you walk into it you are greeted with a huge photo that I made of it with my little one a few years ago. I have been in here so many times, but I didn’t really know that much about it until recently. It is amazing just how much I take things for granted on campus. You walk by something so many times without even paying attention to it. This feature of the blog every week is a way for me to learn something new every week.

The Birth Of The Union

As I said above the Purdue Memorial Union opened in 1924. At the time of the opening it was not quite finished yet. I wouldn’t be finished until 1929. A little over a hundred years ago though this arch that we all know so well was put in place. A crowd watched as the cranes lifted the heavy limestone portions into place. I can’t help but think about how we watch the Christmas tree come in this same door every year lifted by a crane. 100 years later, and this entrance can still be the center of attention. I am sure that I will write about this building more over the course of this little history project. With it turned 100 next year it might become a bit of a focus. Looking at the architects of the building they seemed to have a period where they designed the Unions for a few campuses. Pond and Pond designed this one as well as the unions at Michigan, Michigan State, and Kansas. In a crazy note the union at Michigan was constructed on the site of their boyhood home. A trip to Ann Arbor might have to be in store in the future to take a look at that one.