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Campus attractions at the university of florida.
By Florence Beth Snyder
The University of Florida (UF) in Gainesville is a preeminent research institution, but visitors can be forgiven for thinking they’ve stumbled onto a soundstage for one of those 1930s college musicals.
With its Gothic Revival architecture and 20 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, UF’s 2,000 acres are a movie location scout’s ideal of what a university should look like. More than 50,000 students from more than 130 countries and all 50 states complete the picture of a campus straight out of central casting. Any day is a good day for a self-guided walking tour of the university’s Historic District . A good place to start is the 157-foot-tall Century Tower, a moving tribute to UF alumni and students who perished in the World Wars of the 20th century. One of only four carillon towers in Florida, Century Tower's 61 bells can sing a five-octave range. The carillon sits at the top of 194 steps and weighs an astounding 57,760 pounds. You can enjoy the Tower’s rendition of “Florida Chimes” on the quarter-hour from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and listen anytime on YouTube . The Plaza of the Americas is the focal point of the Roaring 20s-era landscape design by Frederick Law Olmsted’s sons, John Charles and Frederick Law Jr. It’s a great place to picnic and people-watch.
Just west of the Historic District is Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, the 88,548-seat venue where UF’s football team plays its home games.
- Brad McClenny for VISIT FLORIDA
Just west of the Historic District is Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, the 88,548-seat venue where UF’s football team plays its home games. UF’s national reputation as a football school dates back almost a century, and the stadium is practically a shrine for those who wear the orange-and-blue of the “Gator Nation” and T-shirts bearing pictures of Albert, the school’s alligator mascot. When the stadium is not occupied with practices and home games, visitors are welcome to jog around the concourse, run the steps, or just hang out in the stands and enjoy the Florida sunshine. On your way in, check out the life-size bronze statues of Heisman Trophy winners Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel and Tim Tebow, as well as the Heavener Football Complex , which houses a museum highlighting Gator football history. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is nicknamed The Swamp, and not just because of UF’s alligator theme. The stadium’s bowled-in architecture is notable for steep stands that put spectators close to the field, and acoustics that amplify crowd noise to eardrum-shattering levels. None of this bothers rabid Florida alumni, whose seats on the west side are shaded by the press box. The visiting team’s supporters have no place to hide from a broiling game day sun. It all adds up to a notorious home-field advantage for UF fans; they have the statistics to back up their brag that "ONLY Gators get out alive." Tourists in search of more cerebral pursuits can always find interesting ways to pass the time at the UF Cultural Plaza, home of the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts , the Florida Museum of Natural History and the Harn Museum of Art . The Florida Museum has been, since 1891, the official curator and champion of the Sunshine State’s rich and diverse natural history. In recent years, it has evolved in to an internationally recognized institution committed to “Inspiring people to care about life on Earth.”
A pair of butterflies search for nectar in the Butterfly Rainforest at the Florida Museum of Natural History on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville.
Highlights include the Butterfly Rainforest , a live-action exhibit filled with free-flying butterflies and birds from around the world, along with up-close-and-personal looks at turtles and fish amidst an appealing tropical landscape. If you dare to explore the darker side of nature, visit the Museum’s Bat Colony , home to 300,000 residents of the Bat House and Bat Barn. Every night is Halloween in that 15- to 20-minute window just after sunset and before total darkness, when temperatures are above 65 degrees, as they almost always are. An observation area is provided, but bring your own plastic protective gear because you never know what might fall from the sky. The bats and butterflies are best appreciated in person, and once you meet them, you’ll want to see them again soon. Thanks to UF’s “ Critter Cams ,” you can, 24/7. The Harn Museum of Art collection includes thousands of pieces of African, Asian, modern and contemporary art, as well as photography with significant representations of Ancient American and oceanic art. The 40,000-plus square feet of exhibition space is surrounded by five peaceful garden spaces, and the Harn’s Camellia Court Cafe is a relaxing lunch spot for Museum-goers, or those stopping by the Phillips Center to buy tickets for an upcoming show. When the Gators wish to commune with real ‘gators, they head to Lake Alice, a small and beautiful body of water where alligators allow people to watch and be astounded ... from a distance. The Baughman Center at Lake Alice is a 96-seat miniature medieval cathedral built from Florida cypress, yellow pine and copper, featuring three shades of travertine marble flooring. Weddings, funerals and small musical performances bring guests to the pavilion, but most of the traffic comes from individuals who stop by to think and meditate in a serene and splendid setting.
When you go… University of Florida Gainesville, FL 32611 (352) 392-3261
places to remember
Gainesville
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Office of Admissions
Campus Tour Guides Florida Cicerones serve as campus tour guides in partnership with the Office of Admissions, welcoming prospective students and their families to the University of Florida. Through campus tours, they provide insight into the student experience and showcase the Gator spirit across campus. With the goal of uniting past, present, and future Gators, Florida Cicerones interact with people from all walks of life and aim to create a memorable experience for each and every guest.
Our Town Home and Garden Show returns to Gainesville since 2019
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - Our Town Magazine is partnering with The Builders Association Of North Central Florida for the Our Town Home and Garden Show.
It’s happening at The Alachua County Sports and Event Center (4949 Celebration Pointe Ave), Saturday April 27th & Sunday 28th.
Saturdays hours are 10am-5pm and Sundays are 11am-4pm.
Attendees can expect vendors ranging from home renovation, decor, gardening, patio and more.
Kids under ten are free and adults are $5.
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Virtual and Self-Guided Tours. UF's self-guided tour showcases our campus and can be done conveniently. It has audio and visual content recorded by our student tour guides. Download our self-guided tour through UF's GatorWay app. If you're in Gainesville: Campus is open to the public and the self-guided tour will lead you along a tour route.
UF's self-guided tour showcases our campus and can be done conveniently. Download our self-guided tour through UF's GatorWay app. If you're in Gainesville: The UF campus is open, and you should be able to gain insight into what life can be as a Florida Gator. We suggest starting at the Reitz Union so you may follow the route in the same order as guided tours.
The virtual University of Florida campus tour is an interactive, 360-degree UF campus exploration. From the academic buildings that house UF's diverse range of programs to the student facilities that form the backbone of everyday life at the university, the virtual tour lets you navigate the campus at your own pace.
Any day is a good day for a self-guided walking tour of the university's Historic District. A good place to start is the 157-foot-tall Century Tower, a moving tribute to UF alumni and students who perished in the World Wars of the 20th century. One of only four carillon towers in Florida, Century Tower's 61 bells can sing a five-octave range.
Virtual Tour without Guide. Learn more about the UF College of Journalism & Communications with this video presentation showcasing our facilities and our student life culture. CJC tours are offered on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 11:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Launched this spring, GatorWay's UF Self-Guided Tour guides you through 14 mapped locations on campus, from the Plaza of the Americas and Marston Science Library to Murphree Hall and The Swamp. For each stop, there are photos of UF landmarks along with audio narration by a UF student, who provides up-to-date information, statistics and a ...
The event includes a welcome from UF Admissions, a tour of campus, an informational session about UF Honors, and lunch with the Luminaries. There is also an optional opportunity to visit Honors Village. Register at your admissions portal. March 19, March 26, April 2, April 10, and April 17.
Office of Admissions. Florida Cicerones serve as campus tour guides in partnership with the Office of Admissions, welcoming prospective students and their families to the University of Florida. Through campus tours, they provide insight into the student experience and showcase the Gator spirit across campus. With the goal of uniting past ...
Welcome prospective students! We look forward to introducing you to the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering! Regularly scheduled engineering information sessions and tours will take place during the fall and spring semesters. If you are interested in a general UF campus tour, please schedule a tour with the Office of Admissions.
Explore the Graduate School at Florida or find a step-by-step guide on how to apply. Visit the Graduate School. Apply to a Graduate Program. ... Tour our 26 residence halls, apply for housing and see what living on campus can do for you. ... University of Florida Gainesville, FL 32611 352-392-3261. Tools. One.UF; MyUFL; Webmail; eLearning; UF ...
SCHEDULE A VISIT: Tours through UF Admissions are geared toward undergraduate studies. Candidates for master's and/or Ph.D. degree programs can contact specific departments for additional information about admissions criteria, specific lab or research tours, meet-and-greets and more, subject to availability of faculty/staff.
At the University of Florida, we are a people of purpose. We're committed to challenging convention and ourselves. We see things not as they are, but as they could be. We strive for a greater impact; one measured in people helped and lives improved. ... These programs include group tours as well as specific events for prospective and admitted ...
Summer Tour Dates: Tours are not offered in the summer (May through mid-August). If you are coming to campus during the summer months, please see the student assistants in Heavener 333 with any questions you may have. Spring Tour Dates: January 19th. January 26th. February 9th. February 16th. February 23rd.
The Warrington College of Business Online Tour provides an in-depth look at programs, resources, buildings and initiatives at the college. ... University of Florida Bryan Hall 100 PO Box 117150 Gainesville, FL 32611-7150. UF Campus Map. Schedule a Campus Tour; Stay Connected. Connect with 85,000+ Warrington alumni! Update Your Info;
At UF Law, we offer tours during the Fall and Spring semesters every weekday starting at 12:00 pm, typically lasting 30 to 45 minutes. During the summer semester starting Friday, June 7th, tours will be offered once a week on Fridays at 12:00 noon. These tours are hosted by our current Levin Ambassadors and allow you to explore the various ...
The UF Innovation Minor is exclusive to IA students. The Innovation Minor courses are designed to provide a core knowledge base and a skill set to prepare IA students for the 21st century economy. Through four years of classes on entrepreneurship, creativity, leadership and ethics, Innovation Academy helps students develop an innovative mindset.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - Our Town Magazine is partnering with The Builders Association Of North Central Florida for the Our Town Home and Garden Show.. It's happening at The Alachua County Sports and Event Center (4949 Celebration Pointe Ave), Saturday April 27th & Sunday 28th.