Activities & Organizations
Major Campus Events
Below is information about each of the 21 stops along the Commencement Week "Things You Never Got to See Tour." The last five stops on the list are special locations that are available only from 3pm to 5pm on Thursday, June 5 and Friday, June 6. Everything else can be visited at any time.
These tours are free of charge and self-guided, and no tickets or RSVPs are necessary. A full color map of the tour stops is available as a PDF by clicking the link on the right.
1. Outside of the Dental School’s Postle Hall stands a statue of one of America’s most renowned dentists, Dr. Willoughby Dayton Miller. The Ohio native is credited with bringing the science of bacteriology into dentistry and for being the first researcher to accurately describe the process of tooth decay.
2. Outside of Meiling Hall, you will find Hippocrates Plaza. Hippocrates is considered the founding father of medicine, and behind the statue are two tablets displaying the Hippocratic Oath, the pledge taken by graduates as they enter the field of medicine.
3. Dedicated in 1993, the Statue of Hope stands outside of the James Cancer Hospital. The statue is symbolic of hope for all people, characterized by a woman's arms open to the sky, embracing birds in flight.
4. Kuhn Honors & Scholars House is home to the University Honors & Scholars Center. The house was built in 1926 and served as the on campus residence for Ohio State Presidents until 1972. The house is unintentionally built backwards 180 degrees!
5. Surrounding Mirror Lake are the symbolic rocks of both Romophos and Bucket & Dipper Sophomore and Junior Class Honoraries respectively.
6. Near Mirror Lake stands one of the five markers on campus that mark the path of the Underground Railroad that came through campus in the mid-1800s. They are located by the Olentangy River, the RPAC field, Mirror Lake, near Enarson Hall, and on the South Oval by College Rd.
7. Orton Hall is built stratographically correct, meaning the oldest rocks are at the bottom and the newest are at the top. There is a Block O hidden on the front of the building. Can you find it?
8. There are two whispering arches and two echoing locations on the east side of the Oval. The whispering arches are located in the archway of Hayes Hall and the curved steps outside of the Wexner Center on College Rd. The echoing locations are the center of Mortar Board Court next to Weigel Hall and the crack on the curb of College Rd. facing in toward the steps. Whisper or scream “I love Ohio State” and hear what happens!
9. Outside of Hopkins Hall stands the Constitution Tree, once part of a whole grove of trees that lined the Oval during the University’s founding. This particular tree is verified to be alive during and older than the signing of the US Constitution!
10. Derby Hall was originally the Chemistry building. Unfortunately it burned down twice due to chemistry accidents. When they were rebuilding Derby from the fire, they ran out of funds and decided to leave the decorative lining off the roof of the building in the back to save cost.
11. Herb "Hub" Atkinson graduated from Ohio State in 1913 and served as a trustee for 23 years. When he died, his will requested to have his remains buried on campus. You can find a small plaque commemorating Hub’s ashes inside a wall on the second floor of Bricker Hall near a conference room where Atkinson spent a lot of time.
12. The Ohio State Museum is sponsored by Ohio Staters and features a room full of historic pictures and other memorabilia. It is located on the first floor of University Hall.
13. Just north of the Main Library lies the 40th degree Latitude marker & SPHINX Senior Class Honorary plaza. A small stone indicator marks the geographical line that also passes through Philadelphia, Boulder, Seoul, and Beijing. SPHINX Plaza was dedicated as a 75th anniversary gift for the honorary and lists the name of every student linked into SPHINX since its founding in 1907.
14. Stop by 18th & High and see the location of the OSU Football Field before the Horseshoe. A plaque marks old Ohio Field, where “Chic Harley performed those feats which made him an Ohio State Football Legend and sparked the public enthusiasm which led to the construction of Ohio Stadium.”
15. The Chadwick Arboretum is named for Professor Lewis Chadwick, who is credited for bringing arboriculture to professional status and the placing of trees throughout the OSU campus. Don’t get lost walking in the circular Labyrinth!
16. A trip out Kenny Rd. leads you to the University Archives to check out some historic memorabilia and the OSU Golf Course, featuring both the Scarlet and Gray courses.
Special Tour Stops
These locations are only available on Thursday, June 5 and Friday, June 6 from 3-5pm. Just show up!
17. If plants and bugs are your thing, then check out the plant rescue center and insectary that is part of a Rooftop Greenhouse located on the top of Parking Garage K on 12th Ave.
18. Who doesn’t love The Best Damn Band in the Land? Now here is your chance to see where they practice, tour their state-of-the-art Band Center, and see the history of TBDBITL through the years. Visit gate #10 on the east side of the Stadium.
19. Located on the 5th floor of Smith Laboratory, the OSU Astronomy Department boasts an 80-seat Planetarium. The planetarium can simulate the appearance of the night sky from varying locations and conditions - perfect for viewing, day or night!
20. OSU has miles of underground tunnels that connect the University’s heating, cooling, and telecommunications. But have you ever wanted to see what they look like and how they work? Visit the RPAC equipment desk on the ground floor for this unique opportunity.
21. Have you always wanted to see what the OSU Basketball Team Locker Rooms look like? Here is your chance! Meet at the NW entrance near the baseball stadium.
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