Purdue University

West Lafayette — technically a separate city from Lafayette but functionally one continuous place — is dominated by Purdue University, one of America's leading public research universities with particular strengths in engineering, aerospace, and agriculture. The campus is large, handsome, and worth walking through.

The Engineering Fountain on the main campus is the traditional gathering point. The Purdue Memorial Union has good food options and a retro bowling alley. The university bookstore is well stocked with Purdue merchandise if you need a souvenir. During the football season (September–November), game days transform the whole town — Ross-Ade Stadium holds over 57,000 people.

things to do sight
A story
Purdue has produced more American astronauts than any other university — 25 alumni have flown in space, including Neil Armstrong, who walked on the moon, and Gus Grissom, who was the second American in space. The university's engineering tradition runs deep: the campus is full of aerospace and engineering labs, and the Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering is one of the more impressive buildings on campus.

Other places in Things to Do