Main Gate 8/18/21

Allen Street Gate (also known as the Old Main Gate) to the University Park Campus of Penn State, sits on the north side of the intersection of College Ave. (the southern border of campus) and Allen Street in State College. This summer the Gate looks especially good – the University’s grounds crew outdid themselves this year with the plantings at the Gate (as well as across campus).

Originally, Allen Street ran north through campus (and beyond). The stone gate pillars at College Avenue '…were purchased from the Pennsylvania exhibit at the St. Louis Exposition of 1904. They supported two lions holding shields emblazoned with "Pa", which quickly became known as "Pa" and "Ma" to the students, [and] two of the most popular landmarks on campus at the time.'

'The lions were temporarily removed when the iron grill was installed and have since been lost. The gates were reconstructed in 1916 as a gift of the class of 1916….[T]he road was closed to traffic circa 1924…; and the iron grill added in 1930 to form a permanent barrier…."

<https://news.psu.edu/photo/532585/2018/08/21/allen-street-gates-through-years>

The Gate continue to be a major entrance to campus from the town and a gathering point for the University and community.