Penn State University Park

Penn State University Park is a campus in Centre County, Pennsylvania, stretching across several thousand acres and encompassing nearly 1,000 buildings. The grounds connect academic facilities with residential areas, research laboratories, and public spaces through a network of pathways and roads.

The institution began in 1855 as an agricultural school and went through several name changes before receiving its current designation in 1953. The grounds grew over the decades from a small farming college into a large research university with national reach.

The Palmer Museum of Art displays over 10,000 artworks from American, European, and contemporary sources across its rotating exhibition spaces. Visitors can explore the collection free of charge during regular hours, viewing works from different periods and artistic movements.

Visitors exploring the grounds move most easily on foot or by bicycle, as most academic areas and public facilities connect through a system of walkways. Buses run regularly between the more distant buildings, making longer trips across the sprawling layout more manageable.

The university creamery produces over 225,000 gallons of ice cream each year and doubles as a hands-on learning site for food science students. Visitors can sample different flavors on-site, some named after traditions tied to the institution.