Lafayette - West Lafayette :: things to see and do

Lafayette - West Lafayette Indiana Convention & Visitors Bureau

1-800-872-6648
301 Frontage Road
Lafayette, IN 47905

Outdoor art abounds! Once you look for it, you’ll notice outdoor sculpture just about everywhere in Lafayette – West Lafayette. So the next time you drive through town or stroll through campus, take a few minutes to enjoy these true works of art. The Tippecanoe Arts Federation (TAF) has compiled a large listing of community art both indoors and out, CLICK HERE to view.

Anatomy Vessel (Sapling)

Location: currently located inside Lafayette City Hall but will be relocated to the alley between city hall and their new building on Columbia, Downtown Lafayette

Dedicated in November of 2008, this cast and fabricated bronze tree reaches twelve feet high. Artist Eric Nordgulen, of Indianapolis Indiana, stated that the environmental statue represents and encourages a more sympathetic relationship for the future between industry, technology and the natural world.

Anatomy Vessel in downtown Lafayette, Indiana

Columbian Park Zoo Sculptures

interactive water globe at the Columbian Park Zoo in Lafayette, Indiana

Location: Columbian Park Zoo

As the newly renovated Columbian Park Zoo opens to celebrate its 100th Anniversary this year, we note a variety of interactive outdoor art that has been added to the area. A fountain with a forty-two inch solid granite sphere emblazoned with a map of the world on a water base greets visitors to the zoo. A child’s touch will set the world spinning! You then move on to a meandering river populated by seven beautiful bronze sculptures representing the seven continents. These sculptures, done by Texas artist Darrell Davis, include a bear cub, platypus, orangutan, penguin, alligator, gecko and a trio of baby elephants. A lovely Butterfly Sculpture Garden is located in the middle of the zoo. Three fiberglass sculptures invite children to climb on them and explore. These sculptures are an eleven-foot caterpillar, a ladybug and a butterfly on a flower.

cRRossings

Location: 11th and Main Streets in downtown Lafayette

“cRRossings” by local artist Scott Frankenberger is located at the Trolley stop at 11th and Main streets in Lafayette and made from old railroad ties encased in a steel frame. This piece pays tribute to Lafayette’s railroad history standing just feet from where railroad tracks were located before Lafayette’s Railroad Relocation project finished, with the final train cutting through the heart of downtown in April 2001.

Envisioning Tomorrow

Location: Southwest corner of 4th & Columbia Streets in downtown Lafayette

Dave Caudill, the artist of the piece, says that the sculpture represents different parts of the community coming together for progress. He also mentioned that the 19-foot stainless steel sculpture offers us a "child-like" view as we gaze up into the world above.

The sculpture, dedicated in May of 2008, is the first of four planned sculptures to be placed in the city’s streetscaping project around the courthouse square.

Family Farm Sculpture

Location: Southwest corner of 5th & Main Streets in downtown Lafayette

Dedicated in October 1992, the farm family sculpture is constructed of various tools and items that you would find on the family farm. Created by Linda Vanderkolk and Roy Patrick. The family oversees the farmers’ market that takes place nearby three days a week as well as the other downtown events. Enjoy the Farmers’ Market mural at the northeast corner of Fifth and Columbia streets.

Fishtail Dance

Location: in the trailside park area along the Wabash Heritage Trail at North River Road, between the West Lafayette exit ramp from the Harrison Bridge and the Williamsburg on the Wabash Apartments.

This sculpture by Indiana artist John Mishler was dedicated in September of 2007 to compliment the Wabash Heritage Trail. The sculpture is 15 feet tall, weighs 800 pounds is made out of stainless steel that has been textured. The surfaces have been painted to relate to the nature that is surrounds ii in the park and river. The kinetic movement of the top two part reminds one of dancing, thus the title, “Fishtail Dance”.

Millennium Sundial
Location: John T. Myers Pedestrian Bridge over the Wabash River, downtown Lafayette Installed to commemorate the Millennium as part of the Millennium Celebration. The sundial is approximately eight feet tall and is mounted on a four-foot square base of limestone weighing approximately 2,500 pounds.

Most Precious Offering
Location: South side of Riehle Plaza, near the steps and elevator to the bridge Dedicated in May 2007, this bronze sculpture is a memorial to local soldiers who lost their lives in Iraq. The sculpture features a baby swaddled in an American flag and lifted to heaven by its parents’ outstretched arms. A combat helmet rests next to one of the arms. A granite base under the sculpture lists the names of local soldiers who died in combat.
The sculpture is meant as a final goodbye and an honor to parents for nurturing the soldiers from infancy.

Mythic Wabash Mural
Location: Spurlock's West, 119 N. River Road, West Lafayette Local artist Craig Martin worked with Cary Home students to create the mural adjacent to Spurlock's West. Martin's design depicts the "Mythic Wabash," provoking the imaginations of the community.
Of the project, Martin states, "It's really something that has grown from beginning to end... I never imaged it would get so much attention and so many people would stop by to share their appreciation."

Playtime in the Park
Location: Adjacent to the SIA Playground at Columbian Park, Lafayette The Curly Q slide at Columbian Park dates back to the 1930s or 1940s and had long been a favorite of residents through the years. However, when that part of the park was being renovated and the new SIA Playground was constructed, the slide no longer met current playground safety standards. It was decided to make the Curly Q slide into a sculpture. The slide was painted in bright yellows, blues, and oranges to match the colors of the adjacent SIA Playground. Steel cut-outs of toys, including sleds, skateboards, ice skates, roller skates, bicycles, unicycles, pogo sticks and rocking horses, were welded to the slide. There are also cut-outs of a monkey, ducks and frozen custard included in the sculpture.
All aspects of the sculpture bring back fun memories of the slide and other activities that have happened in the park. According to Roy Patrick, the artist, "The slide was just too good to get rid of. It just brings back a flood of memories to people." Playtime in the Park Sculpture was dedicated on July 2000 and residents can still enjoy gazing upon the Curly Q slide and reminiscing of time spent playing at the park.

Ouabache Sculpture

Location: East side of the Wabash River on the Union/Salem Streets bridge, Lafayette

This sculpture stands 31 feet high and is made of aluminum. It was created by Richard McNeely, a local Lafayette artist, to represent the area...one point represents Lafayette and one point represents West Lafayette with the curve in the middle representing the Wabash River. The sculpture was created in 1976 when Lafayette was celebrating 150 years as a city.

St. Francis Statues

Location: In front of Home Hospital on 26th Street and at the corner of 14th and Tippecanoe Streets on the St. Elizabeth Hospital Campus

These statues, titled "The Spirit of Saint Francis”, have become the hallmark of the Sisters of St. Francis Health Services facilities. Sufi Ahmad created the design of the statue while a faculty member at St. Francis College in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Ahmad conceived the idea for the statue almost 20 years before it was actually commissioned in 1995.

It presents St. Francis, known for his generosity and love of all creatures, kneeling with his arms outstretched and surrounded by birds.

Sea Gulls Sculpture
Location: Wabash Landing, between Borders Bookstore and Scotty’s Brewhouse, West Lafayette Created by Michigan artist, Cynthia McKean, the artwork, made of structural steel, features three spiraling, lighted columns of birds in flight.

Sonya L. Margerum Fountain
Location: Tapawingo Park Plaza at entrance to pedestrian bridge, West Lafayette Dedicated in September 2006, the fountain is a tribute to the Sonya Margerum’s two-dozen years of service as mayor of West Lafayette. Beautifully lite at night. The fountain resembles the shape of the Tippecanoe County Courthouse that can be seen in the skyline viewing east from the fountain.

Square Root Sculpture

Location: Wallace Triangle neighborhood, State and 11th Streets, Lafayette

The Wallace Triangle Neighborhood's small, but beautiful green space known as Curtis Island showcases the steel sculpture "Square Root" by artist Greg Meyer. Lifelong resident Sam Curtis tended plantings there until his death in 2005. In memory of Sam, the sculpture was selected and donated in 2007 by his family to the neighborhood because it replicates the beauty of the adjacent trumpeter vine that climbs the light pole and they found it to be an interesting juxtaposition of nature's art to man-made art in a rigid medium.

Transcend
Location: 3rd and Columbia Street, Downtown Lafayette Transcend, carved from Indiana limestone, measures 6 feet tall and weighs around 1,500 lbs. Don Lawler, of Stephensport, Kentucky, created the statue to represent the community who wish to excel in their personal, business and spiritual affairs. Dediated in November of 2008.

Wabash Waves Sculpture

Location: N. 9th Street, at the Art Museum, Lafayette

This jagged, glistening sculpture of stainless steel was chosen by Dave Caudill to portray the Wabash River as it connects Lafayette and West Lafayette. Caudill, of Louisville, Kentucky, designed the piece to attract passersby to the Art Museum by reflecting the sunlight during the day and the streetlights and other nearby lights at night. The piece was installed into an overhang on the Ninth Street side on the museum in October of 2007.

Who's Watching Who Sculpture
Location: Lilly Nature Center at the Celery Bog, West Lafayette Created by Jane DeDecker, the bronze sculpture of children and animals watching each other was cast in early 2000. It was installed and celebrated as part of the Lilly Nature Center dedication in May 2000.

World Split Asunder Sculpture

Location: South side of Riehle Plaza, near the steps and elevator to the bridge, Lafayette

Indiana artist, Mark Parmenter, designed the sculpture that was dedicated on September 11, 2003 as a memorial to those who lost their lives in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. This 12 foot tall sculpture contains four elements: representations of the World Trade Center Towers, the Pentagon, the Pennsylvania crash site and the earth. The top sections--the towers and the Pentagon--are made of welded aluminum; the bottom, from limestone. The artist carved the earth in a limestone globe and split it into two sections. The limestone was sealed with a clear urethane finish. The sculpture was made possible by contributions from the public and private sectors.

Purdue University Fountains & Sculptures
Bell Tower Location: South of Elliott Hall of Music, North of Memorial Mall. Dedicated in October 1995, this 160 foot brick-clad and steel frame structure is a modern interpretation of the original Heavilon Hall tower before it burned. Purdue’s first bell tower was a fixture of Heavilon Hall. Four days after the building’s dedication in 1894, the building was completely destroyed in a fire. As myth goes, the second bell tower was erected in the new Heavilon Hall to be "one brick higher," but it actually came out to be about nine bricks higher. The tower included a clock and four bells. In 1956, Heavilon was torn down and rebuilt without the bell tower. The clock and the bells were preserved and those bells now hang in the new bell tower. They sound at various intervals during the day to signal class changes, and play music at 12:20 and 5:00 p.m. The old clock sits in the atrium of the Materials and Electrical Engineering Building.
Amelia Earhart Statue Location: outside the dorm and dining court that bear her name. - A symbol of one of Purdue University's most famous icons now has a permanent home on campus. This bronze statue of Amelia Earhart stands eight feet tall and holds an airplane propeller. The statue is a duplicate of one made by California artist Ernest Shelton in 1969. Earhart worked at Purdue from 1935 to 1937 as a counselor for women and as an adviser to the Department of Aeronautics. She disappeared in July of 1937 while flying over the Pacific Ocean in an attempt to fly around the world.
The Boilermaker Sculpture Location: North University Drive, across from Ross-Ade Stadium. An 18-foot bronze statue of a historically accurate boilermaker greets visitors to Purdue athletic facilities. Sculptor Jon Hair of Cornelius, NC began work on the statue in 2003 on behalf of an anonymous donor who wanted to present Purdue with a statue of the world's largest boilermaker. The university researched several old photographs and newspaper articles to ensure the statue would depict what real boilermakers wore when they worked in boiler rooms in the 19th century. The statue weighs 5,400 pounds.
Horse Sculpture Location: Pao Hall of Visual and Performing Arts. This not-yet-named piece, by artist Deborah Butterfield, appears to be a life-size horse replica scrupulously fashioned from weathered and tangled tree limbs. But it actually is made of brass and weighs 1,700 pounds.
Lions Fountain Location: Southeast of the Stanley Coulter building, near Oval Drive. Donated to the University by the class of 1903 and was originally a drinking fountain. However, now just a fountain.
John Purdue’s Grave and Fountain Location: Directly across from University Hall in Memorial Mall. John Purdue, the benefactor of the University, requested that he be buried in front of University Hall. Thus the grave serves as a monument to him and the university he loved. However, he did not get to enjoy much of his university as he died on opening day of classes in September of 1876. The fountain was donated by the Class of 1894 and the Class of 1946 had the fountain renovated as its 50th reunion gift.
Neil Armstrong Sculpture Location: Stadium Avenue and University Street corner in front of Neil Armstrong Hall. This bronze sculpture of Purdue alumnus Neil Armstrong by Chas Fagan depicts Armstrong as an undergraduate student of the 1950s. He is sitting on a stone plinth and wearing a windbreaker, Oxford shirt, khaki pants and penny loafers. His right hand is on a small stack of books, and his slide rule is removed from the case and ready for use. Armstrong, the first man to land on the moon, is gazing over his left shoulder at a trail of sculpted moon boot impressions and other symbolic features.
Stephen C. Beering Sculpture Location: East side of the Beering Hall of Liberal Arts and Education. Dedicated in September 2003 to honor Stephen C. Beering, President Emeritus who retired from Purdue in 2000 after 17 years as president, this sculpture features four iron railroad tracks, which are suspended from a tripod with a bronze torso at the top. A Maltese cross, cut out of the torso, lies beneath the rails on the ground. The railroad tracks reflect the Purdue ties to and support of transportation, advanced communication and the spirit of progress. The torso represents Beering and his role in transferring this spirit to the students of Purdue. The cross on the torso symbolizes that the president was at the heart of this effort, working with self-sacrifice and patience.
Loeb Fountain at Founders Park Location: West of Memorial Mall, North of State Street. This fountain was constructed in 1959 to honor Solomen Loeb, a local merchant, with money donated by Bert and June Loeb. It was originally placed in front of Hovde Hall. It was later moved to the center of Founder’s Park where it was dedicated in 1994. The fountain is made of granite and uses 2200 gallons of recycled water per minute.
When Dreams Dance Sculpture Location: Outside on the South side of Schleman Hall. Three alumnae of Purdue who were inspired by former deans, Barbara Cook and Beverly Stone, donated a sculpture in their honor. The sculpture was created by Louisville artist Dave Caudill and was dedicated in December 2004.
Purdue Mall Water Sculpture Location: Center of the Purdue Mall, east of Hovde Hall. This popular spot on campus was a gift from the Class of 1939 and was dedicated in 1989. The concrete sculpture is 38 feet tall and has 280 colored lights to illuminate the water and stainless steel cylinder. When on, the fountain jets upward 588 gallons of recycled water per minute.
Transformation Sculpture Location: At the Agricultural Mall, north of the Horticultural Building. This 40 foot, 20 ton bronze sculpture was a 50th anniversary gift of the Class of 1952. Renowned Spanish artist, Faustino Aizkorbe, designed it and this is his first commissioned work in the US. Viewed from above, the sculpture appears to be unfurling and creating a symmetrical pattern. This symbolized what Aizkorbe refers to as “Purdue’s continued evolution and changing nature, supported by the strength of its heritage.”
Continuum Location: In front of Lynn Hall, facing Harrison Street. This life-size bronze sculpture is a depiction of the enduring relationship between humans and animals. Commissioned by the school in 1998, Continuum features seven distinct pieces, including a variety of life-sized animals and humans. It was designed by Larry Anderson who created the sculpture in his studio near Seattle, WA over an 18-month period. Continuum is approximately 45 feet long and at the top of the cave section is nine feet high. It was paid for by private gifts and dedicated in September 2000.