College Campus Attractions Worth a Road Trip Stop
These days many college campuses include much more than just classrooms, labs and dorms. In fact, some institutions of higher learning also boast museums, architecture tours and even star gazing opportunities. And the good news is, admission to most college campus attractions isn’t just limited to students and faculty. So consider adding one or two of these wheelchair-accessible college favorites to your next road trip itinerary.
Art & Antiquities
Located in Oxford, the University of Mississippi Museum (museum.olemiss.edu) is known for its impressive collection of Greek and Roman antiquities. The museum offers accessible parking nearby, a barrier-free entrance and plenty of room to wheel through the galleries.
The David M. Robinson Collection of Greek and Roman Antiquities covers the period from 1500 BC to 300 AD and includes a nice mix of pottery, arrowheads, coins and architectural fragments. And don’t miss the marble satyr sculpture. This depiction of a male nature spirit dates back to 200 BC and is particularly striking.
Other permanent collections include the Seymour Lawrence Collection of American Art and the Millington-Barnard Collection of Scientific Instruments. The former includes works by Georgia O’Keefe, Kurt Vonnegut and Richard Brautigan, while the latter showcases an eclectic collection of scientific instruments. And then of course, there are rotating exhibitions, so there’s always something new to enjoy. Best of all — as with many college campus attractions — admission is always free.
Texas Ghost Town
Not all college campus attractions are located in the middle of the campus. For example the Spindletop – Gladys City Boomtown Museum (www.lamar.edu/spindletop-gladys-city), is located at the remote intersection of University Drive and U.S. Highway 69 on the Lamar University campus in Beaumont, Texas.
This re-created oil rush ghost town focuses on the history of the Texas oil boom and includes a saloon, a post office, a dry goods store, a barber shop and of course a livery stable. The museum is staffed by knowledgeable docents and each building features artifacts from the boom days. For example, the barber shop, (which also served as the dentist’s office) includes an old barber chair and an assortment of antique dental tools; while the dry goods store features goods typically offered for sale at the beginning of the twentieth century.
Access is excellent throughout the complex, with ramped or level access to the buildings, a level boardwalk around the town and an accessible restroom near the post office. And admission is a very reasonable $5 — $3 for folks over 60.
Western Landscapes Galore
Located on the campus of Southern Utah University in Cedar City, the Southern Utah Museum of Art (www.suu.edu/pva/suma) is filled to the brim with landscapes of the surrounding Colorado Plateau. There’s level access to the building, accessible restrooms near the entrance, and room to maneuver even the largest wheelchair around the spacious galleries.
The museum grew out of a legacy donation by artist Jimmie Jones, and today that 15-painting bequest is part of the museum’s permanent collection. The museum also features rotating exhibitions, most of which focus on western landscapes or are the work of the school’s faculty or students. Additionally the Stillman Sculpture Court, which is located just east of the museum, features works by Jane DeDecker and Marvin Nelson.
The museum building is a work of art itself. In keeping with the outdoor theme, it’s an interpretation of a Southern Utah slot canyon. The canyon-line roof and the 5,000 square-foot canopy over the main entrance are designed to blur the boundaries of the indoor and outdoor spaces. Take some time to step back and admire the structure from afar. And come back as often as you want — there’s no admission charge.
Reach for the Stars
A lot of colleges have an evening lecture series, but over in Tucson the University of Arizona (www.as.arizona.edu/public-evening-lecture-series) puts a different spin on things, as they conduct their lectures in the Steward Observatory. The lectures take place in Room N210, and they conclude with the opportunity to check out the night sky on a 21-inch telescope. And as with most campuses, wheelchair-access is excellent.
The lectures are held every other Monday, and they begin at 7:30 PM. They cover a variety of topics, from “Hunting for Imaginary Aliens” to “How we Built the Biggest Telescope in Space” and even “Dusty Debris Disks, Galaxies and Black Holes”. And if you can’t make it in person, the lectures are also available on Zoom. And yes, they are all free, and open to the general public.
Architecture Tour
Last but not least on our list of college campus attractions is Florida Southern College (www.flsouthern.edu/frank-lloyd-wright/tours.aspx), which is well known for its collection of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings. In fact, it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2012, for being the largest single site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in the world.
The best place to begin your self-guided tour is at the Sharp Family Tourism and Welcome Center, which is on the corner of Frank Lloyd Wright Way and Johnson Avenue. Accessible parking is available in front, with level access to the building. Inside there’s plenty of room to maneuver a wheelchair around the display of Frank Lloyd Wright photographs, furniture and drawings. And don’t forget to pick up a walking tour map.
The walking tour begins across the street on the west section of the campus. There’s good pathway access throughout the campus, with wide sidewalks, curb-cuts and ramped or level entrances to the buildings. Wander over to the Frank Lloyd Wright administration buildings, past the Water Dome and over to the Thad Bucker Building. Then continue over to the Annie Pfeiffer Chapel (known affectionately as the bicycle rack in the sky), the William Danforth Chapel (which has some beautiful cypress woodwork) and the Polk Science Building.
Conclude your visit with a stroll up the 1.5-mile esplanade which lines the west campus. The tour offers some great photo ops and you can take it at your own pace. It’s a wonderful way to immerse yourself in some beautiful Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.
