The Obelisk is located between Willard Building and Sackett Building along the mall near Old Main. The Obelisk was erected during the first year of the School of Mines (1896) now College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, making it the oldest monument on campus, predating the Nittany Lion Shrine by several decades. The Obelisk was built to enable students to study the weathering qualities of the stones for the benefit of architects and builders. The weight of the Obelisk is calculated to be 53.4 tons. The height is 32.7 feet.
Magnus C. Ihlseng, Penn State's first Professor of Mining Engineering and Geology initiated its construction. He desired to create an instructional yet artistic monument which would test the weathering qualities and commericial value of Pennsylvania's building stones. In a letter to President Atherton, after its completion, he wrote, "It exhibits many of the varieties of structural material with which Pennsylvania is endowed and reveals to the architect at a glance the possibilites of artistic combinations from our native products...Thus the column is not only picturesque but exceedingly valuable to student, visitor, and artisan." (all info from College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, PSU)
To log this earthcache:
- Post a photo of you with GPSr and the obelisk (optional).
- Email me the significance of the arrangment of the components in the monument relating to Pennsylvania geology.
- Pick one stone tell me which one (ie: east side, 4th layer, center stone)and identify it.
- Since this is a weathering experiment share your observation of which stone(s) weathered faster.
