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Tours

1. Indiana University Self-Guided Walking Tour

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   1. Ernie Pyle

      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. 

   2. 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 student organizations at beinvolved.indiana.edu. 
      

      The IU Campus Bus Service has multiple routes that stop at the IMU. For 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. 

   3. 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. 

   4. 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 several 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. 

   5. Arboretum

      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. 

   6. 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 

   7. 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.

      
      

   8. 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. 

   9. 7th and Eagleson

      This intersection at the heart of campus is a hub of activity. On the northwest 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. 

   10. 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. 

   11. 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. 

       You’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. 

   12. Ballantine Hall

       Ballantine Hall is tallest academic building on campus and one of the largest academic buildings in the U.S. It is home to a variety of classes for multiple schools and departments. Inside the northern entrance you’ll find a beautiful world globe six-feet in diameter—it completes a full rotation every three minutes. There’s ample space for studying and relaxing, including a patio and rooftop greenspace. 

   13. 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. 

   14. Chemistry Building

       The Chemistry Building is home to our Chemistry Department. Its architecture on the north side is in the shape of the periodic table, with each window representing an element on the table. Many of our science buildings are located beyond the south side of the Chemistry Building.

   15. Herman B Wells Statue

       This statue honors IU’s former president and chancellor, Herman B Wells, who helped to desegregate IU’s campus and the city of Bloomington. During his time at IU, Wells was very popular amongst the students, and the legend was if you shook Wells’ hand, you would have good luck. To keep that legend alive, students have a tradition of shaking the statue’s hand for good luck before exams or upon graduation.

   16. Rose Well House

       Built in 1908, the Rose Well House plays a part in the history and traditions of 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. 

   17. Frances Morgan Swain Student Building

       Located in the heart of campus, the Frances Morgan Swain Student Building is named after IU’s ninth first lady. Swain was an advocate for women in higher education in the late 1800s. The building features a large clock tower and various classrooms, including spaces for anthropology and geography. 
       

   18. 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.  

   19. 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. 

   20. 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.