Be the ever procrastinator when it comes to working out, I contemplating doing yoga (while looking at Facebook), and Hot Hula (while working on the blog) and that I really should do something (while just playing on the computer). Finally I settled on getting dressed and driving.
Today's destination is South Bend, Indiana to visit the famous University of Notre Dame.
It was about an hour and a half drive from here. Nothing in Indiana is direct. The landscape along the way was ok, not as pretty as South Dakota and Minnesota, but lots of corn and what I think is Soy Bean crops. But arriving on the campus was amazing.
First of all, the Campus is 1,261 acres. It has its own post office and professional fire department and it includes not only this University campus, but also the adjacent campuses of Saint Mary's College and Holy Cross College. The private property on which the university stands includes 171 buildings, two lakes, two golf courses, and a Catholic cemetery open to members of the Notre Dame family.
I drove around and trying to find the way to the golden Dome and the Church Steeple I was finding in the distance. I finally found it and asked a Police Officer where I could park to take pictures. He kindly directed me to the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore parking lot. Next to it is the Eck Visitor Center which I went into and got a map.
I will post the pictures that I took on my tour, with captions, as I continue with the history of the University.
Before finding my way to the nice police officer I found the football training field.
As you can see, it is quite beautiful and amazing. There is a plaque right in front of where I am standing that explains all the pictures in the mosaic, but I could not get a good picture of it.
and the main stadium
The University of Notre Dame was founded in 1842 by Rev. Edward Sorin, C.S.C., a priest of the Congregation of Holy Cross. (Not realizing who he way, I failed to get a picture of his statue) It is located right next to the Gratto Garden). This Roman Catholic congregation of priests and brothers began in France and is today a major international order serving societies and individuals through higher education, missionary work, and the staffing of parishes.
Notre Dame was chartered by the State of Indiana in 1844. It was governed by the Holy Cross priests until 1967, when governance was transferred to a two-tiered, mixed card of lay and religious Trustees and Fellows. The University holds firmly to its Catholic identity and mission, and its statutes require that the president of the University be a Holy Cross Priest.
Notre Dame is truly an international university, with its student body of approximately 8,500 undergraduates and 3,700 graduate students drawn from all 50 states and some 90 countries. It is a residential university with 80 percent of undergraduates living in residence halls.
Also in residence on campus is a community of priests and brothers of the Congregation of Holy Cross. The priests live primarily in Corby Hall and Moreau Seminary.
Notre Dame's faculty exceeds 1,100. This is one of America's leading undergraduate teaching institutions and is growing as a preeminent research university. The University has more than 135,000 alumni and about one-quarter of the undergraduate students are "legacy" students whose parent(s) attended the university.
As I walked up the main road toward the Basilica and the Main Building "The Golden Dome" I took pictures of the beautiful landscaping, the beautiful buildings and the many statues.
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| The golden Dome is in the background. It is the main building, |
Bella found a squirrel that we had to stalk, but she totally missed this one who was lazily observing (and probably laughing at) her.
We finally got to where we could get a clear view of the main building.
There is probably at mile or more of park in front of it with buildings on either side.
Before going into the main building we went into the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. It is truly beautiful inside and out.
From the Basilica we walked around the back of it and down to the Grotto of Our Lady Lourdes.
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| Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, a wonderful setting of candles and constant visitors bringing prayer and petitions. |
On the way back up from the Grotto is a nice view of the Basilica.
From here I went into the Main Building. In the entry way are huge murals of Christopher Columbus.
From there I walked over to Hesburgh Library.
On the way to the Library is this lovely fountain.
On the front of the 10-story library building is a Mosaic called "The Word of Life" but many call it "The Landing of Jesus"
From here we walked toward the famous Fighting Irish Stadium.
And then headed back toward the Eck Visitor Center and Hammes bookstore .
We encountered this along the walk. Everywhere you turn there is something beautiful and amazing.
We found the car and headed out. First I thought we would head over to Indiana Dunes State Park which is supposed to be awesome and right on the water, but then, looking at the time I thought it might be better left for tomorrow. So we headed home.
There was a ton of traffic. They seem to be working on every road in the area. I was really getting hungry, so we ended up stoping in at Gino's a steak and Seafood restaurant.
I had a wonderful shrimp, artichoke and sun-dried tomato pasta and a glass of wine. I got to bring half of it home.
Of course I watched a couple episodes of Chicago Fire before going to bed.
I am so glad that I went to visit Notre Dame. It is truly an amazing campus.
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