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A campus where every view is instagram worthy.

The moment they arrive on IU Bloomington’s campus, most students know this is the place for them. Our storybook campus is recognized as one of the most beautiful in the country—and we’d love to show you why.

Several options for visiting

Prospective undergraduate students.

The IU Bloomington Office of Admissions currently offers in-person and virtual visits for you and your family.

Prospective graduate students

Contact your department of interest to arrange for a visit.

International students

We recommend that you contact the Office of International Services and arrange to talk with a staff member there during your visit.

For all other visitors, the IU Visitor Information Center offers group tours and several self-guided tours. We also offer precollege programs that bring students to campus.

To plan your visit, see our campus map , and get details about visitor parking and transportation .

Virtual tour: visit us from anywhere

Visit our home from the comfort of yours. This interactive Office of Admissions tour shows you around IU with videos, photos, and 360-degree panoramas.

Attend an event

College Information Session + Tour

Friday, April 26, 2024

2 p.m. — 3:30 p.m.

Ernie Pyle Hall

Learn more about the College of Arts and Sciences at Indiana University. Join us to discover what life in the College looks like!

College Information Session+Tour

Friday, May 10, 2024

College Information Session

Monday, May 13, 2024

Starts at 2 p.m.

The campus should be a place of beauty that students can walk around and think grand thoughts. Herman B Wells, IU president, 1938–62

Explore the College while you’re here.

Are you interested in learning more about a College of Arts + Sciences major during your visit to IU Bloomington?

First, be sure to schedule a campus visit through the IU Bloomington Office of Admissions, and sign up for a group College Information Session on the IU Admissions website .

Once you’ve scheduled your campus visit and College Information Session date and time, if you’d also like to meet one-on-one with representatives from the College, please complete the College of Arts + Sciences Visit Form . College visit requests must be made 10 business days prior to the date of your visit.

Where to find the College

You’ll fall in love with B-town, too

Bloomington—our energetic hometown of 82,000—blends the feel of a college town with the opportunities of a larger city. Within walking distance of campus, you can dine at an astounding array of restaurants, discover up-and-coming bands and comedians, browse eclectic shops, and explore miles of trails.

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IUPUI will become IU Indianapolis in July 2024. Schedule an in-person visit or sign up for a group drop-in admissions counseling session or one-on-one individualized counseling appointment with the Office of Admissions.

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IUPUC will become IU Columbus in July 2024. Schedule a one-on-one appointment with an admissions counselor, or register for future on-campus VIP days to take a campus tour.

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Indiana University Bloomington

See one of the world’s most beautiful campuses.

The minute you step foot on campus, you’re bound for greatness. Our castlelike limestone buildings and expansive green spaces will inspire you to imagine all the amazing things you’ll do here. Beauty all year round. Endless opportunities and experiences for everyone. A charming campus you’ll never forget.

Undergraduate visits

Experience the Hoosier life for yourself! Explore IU in many ways, including virtual visits.

IU is a big campus, yet feels very tight-knit. There's nothing better than campus in the fall, walking down Kirkwood, and experiencing IU traditions. Cara Adams, Sports Media major

Visit opportunities for everyone

Find your visit information below, and see our campus map and details about visitor parking and transportation .

Graduate students

International students

See what Hoosier hysteria is all about

From the moment you walk on campus, you’ll feel it. Find your seat in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, one of college basketball’s most iconic arenas, or attend one of more than 23 other varsity sports. Participate in First Thursdays Festivals, a Hoosier tradition showcasing works of artists, scholars, and performers from your fellow classmates and Bloomington locals. There’s something for every Hoosier.

Visit Bloomington in every season

There's a reason why Hoosiers say Bloomington is THE place to live in the Midwest. Experience the beauty, attractions, events and more when you make a ! 

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INDIANA UNIVERSITY BLOOMINGTON

Indiana University Bloomington

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Indiana University Bloomington - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• (0.12 mi) Apartment 201 · Campus Access, Downtown delight on Restaurant Row
• (0.26 mi) Graduate Bloomington
• (0.25 mi) Indiana Memorial Union Biddle Hotel and Conference Center
• (0.12 mi) Spacious downtown delight, campus access
• (0.22 mi) Grant Street Inn
• (0.03 mi) Starbucks
• (0.03 mi) Buffa Louie's at the Gables
• (0.03 mi) Japonee Express
• (0.04 mi) Lennie's & Bloomington Brewing Co.
• (0.11 mi) Nick's English Hut

IU Bloomington

Table of contents, indiana university self-guided walking tour.

Welcome to the Office of Admissions Prospective Student Campus Tour!  

Ernie Pyle Hall is home to the IU Admissions Welcome Center. It was named after Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and World War II correspondent, Ernie Pyle, and was the former home of both the School of Journalism and Indiana Daily Student Newspaper.

At the IU Admissions Welcome Center, we are happy to answer any of your admission questions. Learn more and contact us at IU Admissions Homepage .  

Indiana Memorial Union (IMU)

The Indiana Memorial Union, or IMU, is the student union on campus. The building was constructed in the early 1930s and, with over 500,000 square feet , it’s one of the largest student unions in the world.

The IMU has numerous resources for students, including a bowling alley, a billiards room, the Biddle Hotel, the IU Bookstore, and the Whittenberger Auditorium. The Union Board—the largest student programming organization on campus—screens popular films throughout the year in the Whittenberger Auditorium, free to IU students.  The IMU also features many dining options and lounge areas for students to enjoy right in the heart of campus. One of the main features of the IMU is the Student Activities Tower, which houses offices for some of our 750+ student organizations. IU is home to numerous academic, philanthropic, religious, social, and professional student organizations. See all of IU Bloomington’s s tudent o rganizations at beinvolved.indiana.edu .  

The IU Campus Bus Service has multiple routes that stop at the IMU . F or students needing to travel to the Indianapolis International Airport, GO Express Travel’s shuttle service offers daily pick-ups at the IMU, as well as McNutt and Wilkie residence halls.  

Bill Garrett Fieldhouse

The building is named after the late Bill Garrett, the 1947 Indiana Mr. Basketball winner who played basketball at Indiana from 1947–1951. Garrett was the first black basketball player to play regularly in the Big Ten Conference. He went on to be the third black player drafted into the NBA. The building was home to Indiana basketball from 1928–1960. The School of Public Health is housed on the north end of the building.  

The Bill Garrett Fieldhouse is one of two Recreational Sports facilities on campus. The other is the Student Recreational Sports Center (SRSC) located northeast of the library.    

Recreational sports facilities give students the opportunity to stay healthy, manage stress, and meet new people. As part of their student activity fee, students have access to both recreational centers, strength and cardio equipment, group training sessions, two swimming pools, basketball and volleyball courts, and more. Additional programs available to students include intramural sports, club sports, and personal training.  

Eskenazi Museum of Art

The Eskenazi Museum of Art is free to all. The building, designed by famed architect I. M. Pei, is open seven days a week; the galleries are closed on Mondays. The Eskenazi features severa l galleries and art-viewing rooms, including spaces that feature rotating exhibits. There is also a gift shop, terrace, and café with spaces to convene and study.  

The Eskenazi Museum houses more than 45,000 works of art representing nearly every art-producing culture throughout history from around the world. The collection includes works by Pablo Picasso and Claude Monet, African art, ancient jewelry, and contemporary art.  

The museum is home to a popular IU tradition. Students will lay on the ground outside the museum, put their feet on the wall, and watch as the Light Totem changes the color of the façade.  

Explore the museum virtually with Collections Online .  

The Arboretum was once home to the football stadium and bike track. The old Memorial Stadium used to host the Little 500 bike race and was used in the filming of the 1979 Academy Award-winning film, Breaking Away .  

When the stadium was demolished in 1982, the university created a green space for students to enjoy. The arboretum offers a beautiful view from the heart of IU’s campus. One of the main highlights of the Arboretum is the Arthur R. Metz Bicentennial Grand Carillon Bell Tower. The tower stands more than 127 feet tall and features 65 bells. It is one of less than 30 grand carillons in the world. It even contains a micro classroom where students can learn to play the carillon.  

10th Street

Located on the north side of the Arboretum is Tenth Street. Tenth Street is home to many of our academic buildings including (from west to east):  

•    Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, including Luddy Hall and Myles Brand Hall  

•    Geological Studies Building, home to the Indiana State Geological Survey  

•    Psychological and Brain Sciences Building, home to the departments of psychology, neuroscience, and cognitive science  

•    Kelley School of Business, including the Prebys Career Center and Hodge Hall  

•    O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, named after the late United States Secretary of the Treasury, Paul O’Neill  

Wells Library

The Herman B Wells Library features two towers made of Indiana limestone. It houses various student and researcher spaces including the Learning Commons, Scholars’ Commons, and Grad Commons. The Learning Commons is designed to serve undergraduate students with presentation rooms, group workspace, and state of the art technology.  

Each floor of Wells Library is dedicated to a specific learning style. Some floors are quiet floors while others are for group projects. Some student services are located in the Wells Library, like the CrimsonCard office and the University Information Technology Services (UITS) office where students can receive expert tech support.   

Wells Library also features two IU Dining options : the Campus Café and the Bookmark[et] Eatery.

Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies

The Global and International Studies Building (GISB) contains 165,000 square feet of space, including a 134-seat lecture hall, more than 30 classrooms and collaborative spaces, a television studio, and state-of-the-art building systems and communication technology tools. The GISB features two limestone-clad wings unified by a three-story glass-enclosed atrium.  

The GISB is home to the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies which features, among other programs, the opportunity to study 80 different languages from Arabic to Mandarin to Pashto and Zulu —more than any other school in the country.  

7th and Eagleson

This intersection at the heart of campus is a hub of activity. On the north we st side you’ll find the Mies Building for the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design . The 60-foot-wide, 140-foot-long rectangular structure of thin, white-painted steel and expansive glass, the building realizes architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s 1952 design for the IU Bloomington campus.  

Located on the east end of the IU Auditorium building, you’ll find the IU Cinema, one of the nation’s most prestigious arthouse cinemas. With programming focused on the world’s most entertaining, fascinating, and thought-provoking films, the IU Cinema hosts over 300+ annual events including popular films, rarely shown titles, student film screenings, and discussions with prominent filmmakers and scholars.  

On the northeast side is the Ferguson International Center, which serves as the hub of international engagement on campus . The Ferguson International Center is also home to study abroad programs and international student programs and services , including international student admissions.  

At this intersection, you’ll also find the Lee Norvelle Theatre and Drama Center and the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center. The Lee Norvelle Theatre and Drama Center provides two vital performance spaces and state-of-the-art technology and contains workshop areas and spacious directing and acting studios.  

The Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center is a one-of-a-kind, dedicated “living history” space for students to explore racial identity and express the values of a diverse and engaged learning community. The NMBCC hosts individuals and groups for programming and specialized tours— visit the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center website to learn more. The NMBCC is one of seven cultural centers and institutes on the IU Bloomington campus dedicated to programming, events, outreach, and advocacy for IU’s richly diverse community.  

Fine Arts Plaza

The Fine Arts Plaza is the heart of IU’s art scene, with the Showalter Fountain and its Birth of Venus sculpture at its center. The Fine Arts Plaza is home to events like CultureFest , a Welcome Week tradition celebrating diversity at IU, First Thursdays arts and humanities events, and more. It is a common place for students to gather on nice days, dip their feet in the fountain, and take graduation photos.  

On the north side of the plaza is the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture, and Design. It is located within the Fine Arts Building and houses 14 different areas in art and design.  

On the east side is the IU Auditorium. The IU Auditorium first opened its doors in 1941 and has since served as a community gathering place. The 3,200-seat theatre hosts Broadway tours, national and international artists, and more. Notable past performers and speakers include Bernie Sanders, the Dalai Lama, Meryl Streep, and Kevin Hart . The IU Auditorium offers a student discount on tickets, making it a perfect night out for students.  

On the south side of the plaza is the Lilly Library, which is home to one of the largest book collections in the nation. The Lilly Library’s collection includes an original Gutenberg Bible and the world’s largest comic book collection, donated by Michael Uslan, a three -time IU alumnus and producer of the Batman films.  

Woodburn Hall

Woodburn hall is a multi-disciplinary building housing a variety of classes. It is home to the departments of Art History and Political Science and was a past home of the Kelley School of Business.  

Behind Woodburn Hall, you’ll find a statue of Nobel Prize-winning distinguished professor Elinor Ostrom, the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize in economics. Elinor Ostrom was a pioneering social scientist and one of the world’s preeminent scholars on the management of common pool resources , and she worked and taught at IU Bloomington . With her husband, Ostrom co-founded what is now known as the Ostrom Workshop in Political Theory and Policy Analysis , a multidisciplinary research hub focused on how local, national , and global governance processes can be designed to enhance human well-being, while also promoting democratic principles and sustainable resource management.  

Y ou’ll also find a highly frequented walking path for students going across campus behind Woodburn . While there are numerous ways to get around campus, the most popular is walking—you can walk from corner to corner in about 25 minutes. Students can also ride bikes around campus.  

Students have access to two different bus systems—the Campus Bus Service, which runs from academic buildings to residence halls and libraries, and Bloomington Transit buses, which travel across town including to the mall, grocery store, and off-campus apartments. Campus buses are free to all and city buses are free to students with a student ID. Students can track the Campus Bus Service in the IU Mobile app, available for Apple or Android smartphones.  

Ballantine Hall

Beck chapel.

Completed in 1956, Beck Chapel is a non-denominational chapel not associated with any specific religion. Beck Chapel is constructed with Indiana limestone and wood from the forests of southern Indiana.  

Located steps from the Indiana Memorial Union, Beck Chapel is a very popular place for weddings and is open to the public for prayer and meditation every day unless reserved for a private event.  

Beck Chapel is adjacent to Dunn Cemetery, a small family cemetery established by George G. Dunn in 1855, deeded in perpetuity to Dunn family descendants , and remaining separate from IU when Moses F. Dunn sold family farmland to Indiana University in 1883. Dunn Cemetery remains an active burial ground — where only the descendants of the Dunn family can be buried.  

Chemistry Building

Herman b wells statue, rose well house.

Built in 1908, the Rose Well House plays a part in the history and traditions o f campus. The structure’s stone portals are from the Old College Building, which was built in 1855 on IU’s original campus in downtown Bloomington, what is now Seminary Square.  

The Rose Well House has become a popular spot for marriage proposals and weddings. Legend says that if you kiss your partner in the Rose Well House at the stroke of midnight, you will be together forever.  

Frances Morgan Swain Student Building

Franklin hall.

Built in 1907, Franklin Hall is now a modern learning space and the home of The Media School. The building features state of the art technology including the Beckley TV studio, a 24-foot-by-12-foot screen in the commons, game design labs, studios, and audio and visual equipment available for student checkout. It also houses student media space for the Indiana Daily Student, Arbutus, IUSTV, WIUX, and American Student Radio.  

Outside of Franklin Hall, you’ll find a bronze statue of Ernie Pyle designed by IU South Bend emeritus professor Harold “Tuck” Langland. Dedicated in 2014, the statue portrays Ernie Pyle dressed in combat fatigues, seated on top of a munitions crate, hard at work at his typewriter.   

Sample Gates

The Sample Gates serve as the entrance from the city of Bloomington to IU’s campus. On the other side of Sample Gates is downtown Bloomington, full of great shops and places to eat , including numerous international restaurants and regional cuisines on Fourth Street.  

Bloomington is the quintessential college town, and as a student at IU, you have opportunities to be a part of this welcoming community. Many students enjoy community service to give back to the city of Bloomington as well as IU’s campus. Numerous trails, lakes, and state parks are located nearby and Indianapolis is just an hour away.  

Ninth Street and Indiana Avenue

Located at Ninth Street and Indiana Avenue, the historic McCalla School houses the University Collections at McCalla (UCM). UCM engages students, faculty, visiting researchers, and public audiences with IU’s world-class collections that span disciplines, time periods, and geography. These include many significant art, cultural, historical, and scientific collections across all nine IU campuses. UCM serves as an accessible hub, allowing collections to be used across disciplinary boundaries so that objects can be connected in new and imaginative ways, including via physical exhibits, digital content, classroom instruction, hands-on learning lab interactions, and public events. Learn more at collections.iu.edu/ mccalla .   Just across the street is the IU Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, or IUMAA . From the secular to the sacred, the everyday to the extraordinary, the IUMAA exhibits, curates, and studies the objects and experiences that make us human and tell the story of humanity. The museum draws upon the strengths, rich collections, and connections to community of the former Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology and the Mathers Museum of World Cultures, whose collections include over 5 million artifacts that span across a broad range of human experiences, from global Indigenous Peoples to contemporary communities.  

Note: The IU Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology is currently closed to the public. Learn more about the IUMAA and watch for updates about its reopening at iumaa.iu.edu .    

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Bloomington Urban Forestry Research Group

Outreach activities, indiana university-bloomington: the woodland campus.

The Indiana University Bloomington (IUB) campus is often called “The Woodland Campus.” The name originally dates to the late Paul Weatherwax, an IU alumnus, faculty member, and botanist, who authored the original “Woodland Campus” publication highlighting the natural beauty of the trees and forests of the IUB campus. However, the dedication to natural beauty at IUB dates all the way back to the selection of the current location of the university by the Board of Trustees in 1884.

Since it’s inception, trees have been an important and appreciated part of the Indiana University campus experience. Former President and Chancellor Herman B. Wells is probably most responsible for making the IUB campus woodlands a focal part of the campus that endures. 

In 2009 Sarah Mincey and Burney Fischer developed the IUB brochure “The Woodland Campus” to replace several long out of print versions of the brochure idea.  This SPEA publication was a huge success and has been reprinted as well as provide on-line ever since. The Woodland Campus Tour (pages 13-20) was used by many students and visitors to appreciate the campus trees and learn how to identify common tree species.  

Over time the Tour has become outdated so the publication was recently updated and published by the Indiana University Integrated Program in the Environment (second edition, 2018), supported by a grant from the Indiana University Office of the Bicentennial. It was authored by Senna Bryce Robeson and Sarah Mincey with contributions from Zoe Need.

Download  “The Woodland Campus” brochure

In 2022, Jeff Ehman ( biosketch ), through Image Matters LLC, along with students Grace Pangburn, Kaitlyn Martin, Jules Wood, and especially Emily Faust, has created an enhanced digital version of the tour with navigational support. The eXperienceReality® (XR) Tour ( Start Woodland Campus Tour ) can be accessed through a web browser on any mobile device. Make sure to give permission for the application to access your phone’s location.

The tour is an opportunity to visit and learn about 23 trees, all located within walking distance of the Indiana Memorial Union building near the center of campus. The digital XR application directs users to each tree on the tour, with species including American beech, flowering dogwood, bur oak, and more. Many of these trees are estimated to be over a century old, with some predating the Civil War. Tour visitors can access a variety of detailed information using the application about each tree species, including background on history/lore, wildlife value, and expected habitat impacts due to climate change.

Start Woodland Campus Tour

Funding and Support

Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry, Urban Forest Conservation Fund Grant (PIs: Fischer and Mincey; 2008-2009: $4,410)

See full grant information on our Funding Page

Robeson S.B., Mincey S.K. and Need Z. 2018.  The Woodland Campus. Indiana University-Bloomington, a Historic Walking Tour. Indiana University Integrated Program in the Environment. (2nd edition), 21 pp.

Mincey, S.K. and B.C. Fischer. 2009.  The Woodland Campus: A Historic Walking Tour of Indiana University-Bloomington . IUB School of Public and Environmental Affairs publication (1st edition), 20 pp.

Bloomington Urban Forestry Research Group resources

• O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs

Historic Bloomington Walking Tours

Page last updated on February 6, 2018 at 3:47 pm

Whether you want to learn more about the city's limestone architecture, are curious about local history or are looking for a fun-filled walk, Bloomington's Historic Districts are waiting for you.

In addition to the appealing campus of Indiana University, the international cuisine and eclectic shops, the Lotus World Music and Arts Festival and the arts community, Bloomington boasts thirteen Historic Walking Tours. Each self-paced walking tour highlights the architecture and local history of Bloomington--Indiana's limestone capital.

Cottage Grove Historic District Walking Tour

Cottage Grove Historic District is one of Bloomington's most architecturally diverse neighborhoods. A section of it was platted as early as 1853. At that time, 10th Street was a rural road called Unionville Pike. Several simple two room vernacular structures from that era are still standing along 10th Street. These double pen, saddle bag and central passage structures were among the earliest house forms in the county and are still seen more commonly in rural areas. The district also boasts the only brick Queen Anne structure remaining in Bloomington. Built in an early subdivision called Hunter's Addition, it was once part of lengthy corridor of impressive homes. Among these was the General Morton C. Hunter House. With its grand two story columns, it was a memorable part of Bloomington's most important street. In the 1970's a much-neglected Hunter House was at the center of a controversial rezoning from residential to commercial. The attempt was defeated, however the house was demolished anyway, giving rise to the local historic preservation movement. North Walnut House Western Bungalow The uniquely Bloomington bungalow depicted is sturdily built of rockfaced limestone block, a material that is more familiar on post offices and churches than residences anywhere else in the country.

Courthouse Square Walking Tour

Bloomington and Monroe County boast one of the most intact historic squares in Indiana, containing a thriving business district with unique shops and spaces. Around the square there are virtual layers of history. For example, Mike Black, proprietor of Black's Mercantile, discovered an old foundry furnace built into the foundation of his building, believed to have been built for the Seward iron works. At one time, Seward was the oldest continuously run business in Indiana, but it is most famous locally as the fabricator of the fish weathervane that you see on the dome of the Monroe County Courthouse.Buskirk and Hoagy In 1981 there was a lengthy community debate about building a modern courthouse and demolishing the old one. As a consequence of that discussion, the courthouse was finally restored. Shortly after, CFC, Inc., a local company, began the monumental job of rehabilitating the south side of the square. Since those two groundbreaking projects, downtown owners have steadily reinvested in the idea of a historic square. So much restoration has been done, in fact, that archaeological artifacts are being found constantly: A bottle of "Green River" whiskey was found during the restoration of the Redman Building also known as the Knight of Pythias Building on North Walnut. This "sour mash" was purchased from a local billiard parlor and saloon, Troutman and DeMoss, which operated in 1910 on West Kirkwood.

Historic Monroe County Courthouse

Like many other Midwestern communities, Monroe County chose to construct a new courthouse in the Beau Arts style early in the 20th century. The old courthouse was built in 1826 and remodeled on several occasions. It was a cobbled mixture of classical Greek Revival and French Second Empire styles. About the time that the old courthouse started to show its age, the nation adopted a new style of institutional architecture featured at the Chicago World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 and the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. Courthouse fish Classically inspired exhibit halls encrusted with sculpture and carving were replicated in courthouses, libraries, city halls and post offices all over the country. Fortunately for Bloomington, limestone was the material of choice and the wealth of our community increased dramatically with the national building boom. In 1912, there were 17 stone quarries, 22 mills and 15 cut stone plants operating in Monroe county. mural photograph Bloomington lavishly borrowed from the St. Louis designers, hiring Albert Molnar, who carved the entrance sculpture "The Light of the World" and Gustav Brand whose restored murals decorate the rotunda. Saved from demolition in 1984, the Monroe County Courthouse has become a centerpiece of community pride and commitment to historic preservation.

Local African-American History Walking Tour

Walk through pieces of Bloomington's African American history learning about Bloomington's involvement with the underground railroad, as well as Indiana University's African American heritage.

McDoel Gardens Neighborhood Historic District

McDoel Gardens is Bloomington's most altered neighborhood from past to present. In the early 20th century, McDoel was a thriving industrial community with factories and limestone mills and was home of the Monon Railroad yard.RCA Warehouse Today the bungalows of the yard workers, featuring rows and rows of characteristic front porches, line Dodds and Dixie Streets. However, not much evidence remains of Bloomington's historic native businesses that once thrived near this district, including the Gentry Brothers Circus and Showers Brothers Kitchen Cabinet Plant. Many legends about this district still circulate today. For instance, a current homeowner on Dixie Street discovered a slab with an iron hoop built into the foundation of her basement. A former owner claimed that it was an elephant tie down from the days when the circus wintered in McDoel. Also, several neighbors suspect that the enthusiasm for gardening in this area is a covert attempt to find the graves of exotic animals that may be buried in backyards. Henderson House Hoosier Cabinets, coveted by antique collectors, were also produced in McDoel, beginning in 1919. That factory evolved and was purchased by RCA in 1927 when it began to build more modern radio cabinets. All of this land is currently being redeveloped. In order to stabilize and encourage homeownership, McDoel Gardens Neighborhood Association spearheaded the effort to make McDoel a conservation district in 2001. It was the largest Conservation District in Indiana. It became a historic district in 2004.

North Indiana Historic District

The McCalla School, built in 1907, is adapted by Indiana University for its Art School. It is perfectly suited for this use because its 10 foot high ribbon windows wrap the front of the building. Most of the houses in this neighborhood were built to capture new residents for the area being developed adjacent to Dunn's Woods where the University had moved in 1884. North 321 North Indiana Indiana Avenue was home to many prominent local businessmen, like the Wylies, the Registers, and the Sewards, but was truly a neighborhood composed of diverse economic and social backgrounds. 317 N. Indiana Hoagy Carmichael's family lived on North Dunn Street for a short time. His home was in close proximity to Bloomington's early black community which centered at 9th and Grant, the second location of the Showers Brothers Furniture Factory. In his memoirs, Hoagy readily acknowledged the influence of local black musicians on his music. Nickelodeons downtown and Fraternity dances just a few houses away provided a local testing ground for his world- famous talent.

North Washington Street Historic District

This is a new tour brochure, revised from the 1988 template to include new information on the history and revitalization of the North Washington Street National Register District. Research on Bloomington's local history is ongoing and, in particular, much has been discovered about the work of the J.L. Nichols architectural firm and the activities of the Showers family in the development of this area. Developed by W.N. and J.D Showers for their friends and family, the North Washington Street Historic District developed near the brothers' grand homes on Walnut Street, both of which are demolished. For his daughters Nellie and Jennie, William Showers built two homes with identical floor plans and similar elaborate Queen Anne decoration.Although the neighborhood is memorable for its Victorian atmosphere, it also boasts a large number of Free Classic style homes, which would have appeared refreshingly "modern" in those days. 514 North Washington Dr. Harris built the incredible craftsman style bungalow pictured below in 1915. Its massive scale and multiple gables illustrate the influence of Greene and Greene on this style. Dr. Harris House limestone steps Also found in the neighborhood are artifacts from the Victorian era like the carved limestone rails that connect houses elevated above the grade to the sidewalk below. These same curvilinear rails were common along North Walnut Street as well, although most of these homes have been lost.

Prospect Hill Historic District Walking Tour

Prospect Hill was platted in 1893 on a rounded knoll overlooking the town square. Homes in the neighborhood date from 1840 to 1936 and unlike most Bloomington neighborhoods, many, along the Rogers Street corridor are architect-designed.Restored Paris Dunning House Prospect Hill created its identity as a neighborhood when it took a stand against the demolition of the Paris Dunning House (above), which had fallen into decay. The house was located in the path of the proposed straightening of Third Steet a thoroughfare that would have been built through the center of the property. Bloomington Restorations Inc. Bloomington Restorations, Inc. saved the building in 1984. The neighbors banded together to save the surrounding houses, placing their neighborhood on the National Register in 1991 and creating the first local residential historic district that same year.

Showers Brothers Furniture Factory Walking Tour

Producing more than half of all the furniture made in the United States, the company declared itself "the world's largest producer of bedroom and dining room furniture."

West Side Historic District

The site of Bloomington, Indiana's City Hall was once home to the Showers Brothers Furniture Factory. At its peak in the 1920s, the Showers Brothers Company produced more than 700,000 pieces of furniture a year, enough to fill 16 train-car loads a day. Producing more than half of all the furniture made in the United States, the company declared itself "the world's largest producer of bedroom and dining room furniture." Learn more about the factory in the walking tour.

Vinegar Hill Limestone Historic District

Developed in the heyday of Indiana's limestone industry, 1912-1935, Vinegar Hill Historic District is a community treasure and exuberant expression of local craft and folk art within a residential setting. The same carvers responsible for buildings and churches across the U.S., built their own limestone homes with whimsical figures and portraits as seen above. It is the only neighborhood in Indiana where yard objects are identified as folk art and contribute to the historic significance of an area.Limestone House Vinegar Hill was also a family neighborhood preferred by the academic community at Indiana University. After the university's early 20th century expansion along Third Street and the construction of Elm Heights School in 1926, young families purchased the homes along First Street. Herman J. Muller, a geneticist who won the Nobel Prize in 1946, B. Winfred Merrill, the founder of I.U.'s School of Music, and Alfred Kinsey, all lived along this illustrious strip in Bloomington.

University Courts Walking Tour

Canopied by mature trees, drawn together by Bloomington's only brick streets and bounded by limestone and brick walls, University Courts is the city's most comprehensive historic environment. A stroll through the neighborhood recalls the ambience of the 1920's and 30's. Folklore Institute The neighborhood also illustrates Bloomington's earliest apartment and mixed housing development and, for this reason, is unusual among Bloomington's historic districts. There are twins (duplexes) and flats as well as housing designed around a central courtyard. All of these concepts were a reflection of Bloomington's rapid urbanization and the growth of the university. Because University Courts was built to attract university professionals, the houses are substantial and constructed of brick, limestone, slate and clay tile. Several of the designs were created by John Nichols, Bloomington's first architect. All of the houses are one-of-a-kind in contrast to working class neighborhoods like McDoel and the Near West Side. University Courts boasts Bloomington's only true Prairie style house as well as an outstanding example of a Mission style bungalow. Mission Bungalow The neighborhood was also home to many famous local industrialists like the Johnson Brothers who co-owned the local creamery and William Hoadley, the stone company owner. University history is just as rich. Stith Thompson, eminent folklorist, lived on Fess along with William Book, a psychologist and Beatrice Geiger, long time chair of the Home Economics Department.

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Physical activity throughout your day is critical to the health of not only your body, but your mind and spirit as well. Grab a friend and take a walk or class at the fitness center.

No Cost Indoor Walking Track Access

Eligibility:

• Full-time faculty and staff
• Part-time faculty and staff (adjunct faculty and hourly with retirement benefits)
• IU medical and optometry residents

Eligible IU employees can access the Bill Garrett Fieldhouse from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Before your first visit, please stop by the Recreational Sports Member Services suite located in the fieldhouse, 1025 E. Seventh Street.

Day use lockers and locks are available in the main level general locker rooms free of charge. Please note that free indoor track access does not apply to the Student Recreational Sports Center facility. Questions? Call (812) 855-SRSC (7772).

This program is offered by Campus Recreational Sports and supported by Healthy IU.

View facility schedules »

Outdoor Walking Trails

Healthy IU has mapped out four one-mile loops that feature some of IU Bloomington’s most beautiful and functional walking locations. Each loop is approximately 1-mile or 2,000 steps. Download a map of the trails.

Note: All Healthy IU trails were evaluated for accessibility when they were created (2014). There are no stairs on the paths, but please see the following notes:

• Red Brick Trail has some uneven areas.
• Arboretum Art Trail has some inclines.

There are also walking routes near the CIB. Check those out here.

Self-Guided Walking Tour of Campus

This walking tour is a great way to appreciate the natural beauty and architectural details that make IU Bloomington so remarkable.

Download the self-guided tour PDF

Museum Miles

Get some physical activity while you check out the world-class offerings of IU's museums!

All museums are free and open to the public. Stop in to enjoy the exhibits, fill water bottles, or take a break.

Download the Museum Miles

Riding your bike on campus? Check out the Transportation Demand Management website for bike permits, parking, mentor program and more. IU Bloomington Bicycle Master Plan

Bike Mentor Program

• A peer-to-peer program that matches less experience riders with experienced riders. A mentor will work individually with each mentee to help achieve the mentee’s biking goals. Mentors will help you find the best route, make sure your bike is ready to roll, ride with you, and answer your questions. Available to all IU faculty, staff, and students.
• Request a bike mentor here .
• Become a bike mentor - help budding bicyclists with route planning, traffic skills, choosing a bike, etc. Sign up here .

Smart Cycling Course

• It’s like drivers ed. but on a bike and far less boring! Each module will include materials for you to read, watch, and explore as well as quizzes to test your knowledge. Whether you're just returning to the bike, getting in shape for a charity ride, or consider yourself a more experienced bicyclist, you'll find plenty of information and advice that will make you a more comfortable, confident rider; available to all IU students, faculty, staff, and members of the general public. If you don’t have an IU account, you can create a guest Canvas account. 

IU Recreational Sports

IU Rec Sports offers a variety of sport and fitness opportunities for all levels and interests. Keep up with the activity you love or try something new!  Special Faculty/Staff membership rates are available. Memberships includes pools, strength and cardio equipment, group exercise sessions, courts, equipment checkout, and more! Looking for guidance or specialized instruction from a professional? Rec Sports Personal Trainers are nationally-certified and experts at working with Hoosiers to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle.  

Riddle Point Rowing Association

The Riddle Point Rowing Association (RPRA) is a community outreach organization that provides opportunities for individuals and families in the Monroe County area to learn, develop, and excel in the sport of rowing. RPRA strives to promote fairness, sportsmanship and participation, while providing coaching, education, recreational and competitive opportunities for its members.

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IMU Bowling and Billiards

Enjoy bowling, billiards, and arcade games in an alcohol-free, non-smoking environment at Bowling and Billiards, located on the main level of the Indiana Memorial Union. With twelve bowling lanes, nine pool tables, four modern gaming stations, and one American snooker table, Bowling & Billiards is fun at any age. Questions? Check our website or give us a call at (812)-855-2328.

IU Outdoor Adventures (IUOA)

IUOA has helped members of the IU community lead active lifestyles by providing opportunities to participate in trips, workshops, and other activities that foster a love of the outdoors. You can buy or rent everything you need for your next outdoor activity.

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A walking tour of IU's limestone architectural treasures

Since 2007, June has been Limestone Month, an annual celebration of south-central Indiana’s limestone heritage, sponsored by the Convention and Visitor Bureaus of Monroe and Lawrence Counties. Homes readers know how important this native stone has been to some of our area’s finest residential structures. But for more than 135 years, limestone has also provided the preferred finishing material for the home of Bloomington’s best-known resident: Indiana University. It’s been more than 10 years since Brian Keith, Senior Scientist Emeritus with the Indiana Geological Survey, began giving walking tours to groups interested in the IU’s campus’s magnificent limestone buildings.

On a recent hot Friday afternoon, Keith kicked off Limestone Month at IU’s Sample Gates with a group of about 15 people who had gathered for a two-hour stroll of 19 campus sites.

“Popular architectural styles get revisited,” explained Keith. “There is a blend of styles on the IU campus, including variations on Gothic—Victorian Gothic and Collegiate Gothic, in particular—Romanesque Revival, Second Empire, Art Deco and Modern. There is even a style that’s actually ‘no style,’ which we call a functional building.”

Keith went on to review Indiana University’s three limestone building booms. The first, from 1902 to 1937, coincided with the presidency of William Lowe Bryan. IU’s original buildings on its new campus had already set the tone when Bryan stepped into office: Owen and Wylie Halls included limestone foundations, but their walls were built from bricks salvaged from buildings that stood on the original campus at what is now Seminary Square. Kirkwood Hall had established the precedent for the campus’s new limestone “look.” During Bryan’s tenure, the material continued to dominate, but architects demonstrated its versatility in a range of styles, including Italianate, High Victorian Gothic, Romanesque Revival, and a hybrid known as Collegiate Gothic.

Few buildings were erected from World War I through the Depression and World War II, but President Herman B Wells oversaw a post-War building boom on the IU campus. From the 1950s into the 1970s, through the terms of Wells and his successors, Modernist architectural styles were at the height of their popularity and limestone suited the clean, functional aesthetic. Ballantine Hall, the Main (now Wells) Library and the Musical Arts Center all serve as good examples.

The IU campus has seen another boom in the construction and renovation of limestone buildings during President Michael A. McRobbie’s administration, which began in 2007. The buildings’ styles fall into primarily two camps, an updated Art Deco/Art Moderne—of which the renovated IU Cinema is an example—and what Keith referred to as “IU Style”, which blends the elements of existing styles on campus. Simon Hall, built in 2007, is a contemporary take on Art Moderne and Collegiate Gothic styles. The new building complements its neighbors, Myers Hall and Chemistry, both built in the 1930s.

While IU’s buildings could serve as a crash course in architectural history, they are most interesting for their small surprises, especially the many intricate carvings that delight the eye and often amuse the viewer. A fun family outing would be to visit campus and study the buildings to see who can find the greatest number of limestone carvings. Off the top of my head, I remember seeing a bat, scary faces, a snoozing reader and a girl with a tennis racket. And owls. “There are a lot of carved owls on the buildings,” noted Keith. “I’m not sure anyone knows exactly why.”

For Keith, the limestone tour is a labor of love. “I always try to see something new when I lead a tour on campus, but that’s getting harder and harder to do,” he chuckled, dabbing the sweat from his brow.

Although Keith only leads tours during Limestone Month and for private groups (of 15-25) or conferences by reservation, you can easily take a self-guided tour by requesting his informative booklet, “Follow the Limestone: A Walking Tour of Indiana University.” The booklets can be obtained free of charge from the Monroe County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 2855 North Walnut Street, or from the Indiana Geological Survey at 611 North Walnut Grove Avenue.

“Those who want to do their own tour can either use the booklet or go to the web app maintained by the Indiana Geological Survey,” said Keith. “Just scroll down to the campus map box to open the app that has 30 buildings and I am looking to add more this summer.”

To access the campus map, go to https://igs.indiana.edu/IGSMap/?map=CampusLimestoneTour

IUN’s Class of 2024: Earning a degree on your own time

Stephanie Garcia, a mother of four, earned two degrees in half the time

There might not be too much Stephanie Garcia can put on her plate.

The Griffith native chose to pursue her degree at Indiana University Northwest two years ago. She’s now preparing to graduate with degrees in English and secondary education.

That’s right, Garcia completed a pair of four-year degrees in half the time most students take to complete one college degree. And she did it while maintaining a 3.92 GPA and raising four kids.

With such a busy life already, why did she take so many classes at once?

“I don’t know,” Garcia said. “I like a challenge. I set a goal for myself and thought, ‘I can do it!’”

Her heavy courseload began with one additional class in a semester. She then took seven classes and received straight A’s. The next semester, she took eight classes – all A’s. Then, she decided to add one more…

While her advisors suggested against taking so many courses at once multiple times, Garcia’s mind was set before she stepped foot on campus. She was ready to begin her new life as soon as possible and nothing was going to stop her from quickly becoming the first in her family to get a degree.

“I was tired of working at jobs where I felt like I couldn’t grow,” Garcia said. “I was just working a lot of dead-end jobs, not being able to showcase my skills and use those to better myself or help the company grow. So, I was like, ‘You know what? I need more.’”

Garcia, now 31, hadn’t been in school since graduating high school, when she was nearly nine months pregnant walking across the graduation stage. At 19 years old, she had her first daughter.

For the next decade, she had three more kids, got married and worked different jobs along the way. Every career move, however, seemed to limit how high she could elevate. As someone who always strives for more, Garcia knew she needed something else.

Working as a paraprofessional at Griffith Public Schools piqued her interest. She was helping students with moderate-to-severe disabilities, building connections and trust while thinking, “I can see myself doing this.”

So, she took the leap. Garcia chose IU Northwest because of the proximity and small class sizes, but ended up finding more than she could’ve ever asked for.

She found a community where she fit in among a diverse student body; faculty members who were flexible, motivating and caring; and a campus where she felt at home – participating in Student Support Services (TRIO), Sigma Tau Delta and working in the College of Arts & Sciences – and was allowed to push the boundaries of conventional education.

For incoming students, Garcia has this advice: get ahead on assignments when you can. Being a mom of four kids, she can’t choose when there’s a soccer game, emergency or something else going on, so she had to take care of school when she could.

Thankfully, her professors always understood. She specifically thanked William Allegrezza, Brian O’Camb and Douglas Swartz in the English department for making her classes enjoyable.

Garcia, when asked what she planned on doing next, said “That is the hardest question ever because I have no idea.

“I originally started off with education because I was like, ‘I’m going to be a teacher.’ … But I’m the type of person who needs to keep aiming for something higher. I don’t know, I’m just driven by going higher and higher.”

When Garcia first came to IU Northwest, graduation seemed so far away – even with her expedited schedule. Now, preparing to walk across the stage in front of her family, she can’t believe it’s already here.

While she might not know what the immediate future holds, she’s confident applying to jobs with her IU Northwest education in her pocket.

Wherever she works should be excited, too. Look at what she was able to accomplish in two years. Imagine what she’ll do in her career?

“I wanted to show my kids that, yes, you have a plan for your life and that plan might go off the rails,” Garcia said, “but don’t let that stop you from still pursuing your dreams.”

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