Whether you come to class at UL Lafayette every day or return for a long overdue visit to your alma mater, there are landmarks you can鈥檛 miss: the newly renovated Student Union, the Quad, and the Louisiana Welcome Wall.
But there are some other secret and not-so-secret campus gems that you may not see on your typical trek through campus. We鈥檝e put together a map for a one-mile walking tour so you can see them all: the hidden goodies along with the new campus additions and renovations.
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1. Sprawling oak tree by the Louisiana Welcome Wall
After you鈥檝e admired the new Louisiana Welcome Wall and taken the obligatory picture, rest under the shade of a 100-year-old oak tree. Directly to the right of the wall is a conveniently located and comfortable bench. If you鈥檇 like to learn more about the different trees on campus, download the app Arborgraphia, created by students in the College of Education.
As you're leaving this spot, take the brick-paved Walk of Honor past Martin Hall, and you'll walk directly through the redesigned Quad.
2. Edith Garland Dupr茅 Library鈥檚 echo circle
This campus gem is hidden in plain sight. Stand in the middle of these four curved benches and speak, and you鈥檒l hear your voice echo! The sound bounces off the benches and unique entryway to the library to create the unexpected reverberation.
3. Gaines Center's stained glass
On the otherwise stark third floor of the Edith Garland Dupr茅 Library, you鈥檒l find the Ernest J. Gaines Center鈥檚 stained glass and stone entryway. Artist Karen Bourque created the mosaic, which depicts Louisiana鈥檚 natural landscapes.
While you're here, stop in to hear some of the archived recordings in the Cajun and Creole Music Collection, and talk to the Gaines Center staff about the writer and his legacy.
4. The enormous philodendron in Billeaud Hall
When we say enormous, we're not exaggerating. The 35-year-old snaking philodendron is growing inside the Billeaud Hall entryway, surrounded by a tropical garden. Just a few years ago, a freshman class helped build the garden, and biology professors now maintain the garden and philodendron.
5. Our Lady of Wisdom garden
In the middle of the campus hustle and bustle, you鈥檒l be immediately calmed as you walk into the enclosed garden space beside Our Lady of Wisdom Catholic Church. With lush plants and a flowing fountain, you can take a moment to relax in this serene setting.
6. The Roman crane
The Roman crane, built by UL Lafayette civil engineering students, was installed near Fletcher Hall in 2013. They built the crane for the Discovery Channel鈥檚 鈥淓ngineering the Impossible鈥 series in 2010.
While you're here, check out the newly renovated Fletcher Hall, which houses two art galleries.
7. Alumni Center gardens
Enter through the Alumni Center鈥檚 iron gates and make your way to the gardens, which boast a pond, fountains, fragrant flowers, and lots of shade from enormous oak trees.
8. Sept. 11 memorial
Near the Alumni Center, a memorial for the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks serves as a sobering reminder of what happened 14 years ago. The shard of limestone, salvaged from wreckage at the Pentagon, helps us pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the attacks.
9. Hilliard Art Museum Caf茅 and Museum Store
Feeling thirsty or under-caffeinated? Sip and shop in the airy Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum, which boasts its own caf茅, a renovated museum store, and free wi-fi!
Photos by:
Amy Windsor, Social Media Strategist
Robert Tarleton, Graduate Assistant