View memorials and other points of interest in remembrance of the victims of the 1970 plane crash.
Memorial Fountain
Designed by artist Harry Bertoia and dedicated in 1972, the Memorial Fountain pays tribute to the victims of the 1970 Marshall University plane crash and the resilience of the university community. Built out of welded copper and bronze tubes, the fountain stands in the middle of the Memorial Student Center Plaza and is meant to represent life and upward growth. Each year on the anniversary of the crash, a memorial ceremony is held and the water is turned off in remembrance of the 75 who perished.
Memorial Student Center
The Memorial Student Center serves as a living memorial to the 75 people who perished November 14th, 1970 – on Southern Airways Flight 932. The building opened in 1971, replacing the old Shawkey Student Union. In 2019, a new, interactive touchscreen display was installed inside, allowing visitors to view pictures and learn more details about each person who died in the crash. Just as the Memorial Fountain on it’s plaza commemorates the waters of life – rising, renewing, reaching to express, upward growth, immortality and eternality – on any given day, the Memorial Student Center does the same. It is the hub of life and activity for students on campus and holds many memories for the Huntington community.
We Are Marshall Memorial Bronze
Located at Joan C. Edwards Stadium, a bronze sculpture and plaques, installed in 2000, honor members of the Thundering Herd who perished in the 1970 plane crash. The football stadium where the memorial is housed opened in 1991, replacing the old Fairfield Stadium, which was used from 1928 to 1990.
Spring Hill Cemetery
This granite cenotaph pays tribute to the 75 players, coaches, fans and crew members who perished in the plane crash on November 14th, 1970. In honor of the victims, Marshall University President John G. Barker and Vice-President Donald Dedmon formed a committee who created a memorial, which was placed at Spring Hill Cemetery, where several players were buried.
Crash Site Memorial Marker
After a tough loss in Greenville, North Carolina on November 14th, 1970 - the Marshall University football team, staff and fans boarded a DC-9 Southern Airways flight headed for Huntington. Poor weather conditions and fog made visibility a challenge and the plane crashed into the hillside one mile from the runway at Huntington Airport. This marker is one of many physical reminders of the tragic crash and the resilience of Marshall and the surrounding community.