IU’S BEST SIGHTS AND VIEWS
From Dunn Woods to Sample Gates, there’s no shortage of sights to see at IU Bloomington
By Grant Wheeler grawheel@iu.edu
Music students for special concerts. Eskenazi Museum of Art
As any IU student will tell you, the university is home to one of the most beautiful campuses in the country. Whether you’re enjoying the natural campus wonders or admiring the signature limestone architecture, there’s no shortage of extraordinary sights to see at IU. Cox Arboretum Located just south of 10th Street and west of Herman B Wells Library, the Jesse H. and Beulah Chanley Cox Arboretumis home to a stunning array of trees and other plant life, many of which are native to Indiana. It also features the Metz Carillon, a 65-bell tower that can be heard playing everything from Bach to Britney Spears throughout the day and is occasionally played by Jacobs School of
Showalter Fountain on June 14, 2021.
Trees line the walkways in Dunn’s Woods.
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Aside from being a sight to see in its own right, the Eskenazi Museum of Art exhibits permanent collections ranging from 18thcentury European paintings to ancient Sumerian pottery to Gandharan bronze sculptures. Attendees can also visit the museum’s rotating exhibitions, which have recently displayed costumes worn by actress Glenn Close, ancient Roman fashion, and artist Stuart Davis’ “Swing Landscape.” Attendance is always free and the museum can be found just north of Showalter Fountain.
crossed with walking paths and dotted with places to sit and admire the scenery. It’s a great place to take a break from the hustle and bustle of campus life and is especially stunning in spring and autumn. Biology Building Greenhouse If you’ve had enough of the Indiana foliage, take a walk through the greenhouse next to the Biology Building. Home to a bevy of plants from all over the world, the greenhouse is free and open to the public during the week. Featured flora come from deserts and rainforests alike, and even include toxic and carnivorous plants.
Dunn Woods
Showalter Fountain
Those who want to stroll through a forest without leaving campus should look no further than Dunn Woods. The woods are criss-
Located between the Lilly Library, the IU Auditorium, and the Eskenazi Museum is Showalter Fountain. Its location and the
IDS FILE PHOTO BY ETHAN LEVY
IDS FILE PHOTO BY ANNA BROWN
Students walk through the arboretum.
Students walking past the Sample Gates are pictured.
sculpture of the birth of Venus at its center make it one of the most well-known landmarks on campus. Like the Sample Gates, the ideal time to visit is at sunset, as the open west side of the plaza allows a dazzling view down Seventh Street. Sample Gates Perhaps the most iconic spot on campus — and almost certainly the most photographed — the Sample Gates can be found at the intersection of Kirkwood Avenue and Indiana Avenue. Funded by Edson Sample and named for his parents, Louise and Kimsey Sample, the Gates act as a gateway between IU and the Bloomington community, leading into the most historic section of campus, the Old Crescent. Visit during the evening for a brilliant view through the gates of the sunset over Kirkwood Avenue.
IDS FILE PHOTO BY ANNA TIPLICK
IDS FILE PHOTO
ORIENTER NEW STUDENT GUIDE | SUMMER 2022
