Oles in the News: St. Olaf, once again, named a beautiful campus
Travel + Leisure recently highlighted St. Olaf College as one of the 50 most beautiful college campuses in the United States. Ranking No. 5 on the list, St. Olaf was recognized for its historic architecture, expansive green spaces, and scenic walking routes.
Earlier this year, specific features of St. Olaf were highlighted in the U.S. News & World Report most beautiful campuses list. These included:
Old Main
The first building on campus, Old Main originally housed the majority of classrooms, offices, the dining hall, and male student housing. Today, it is the oldest building at St. Olaf, known for its decorative turrets, stone staircase, and chimneys. Behind the building, views of the Hill are picturesque throughout the seasons, with many students sledding nearby in winter or studying on the lawn come spring and fall.
Boe Memorial Chapel
With its intricate stained-glass windows and towering ceiling, Boe Memorial Chapel is the perfect place for worship, contemplation, and musical performances. It is home to the spectacular Holtkamp Organ, whose awe-inspiring sound fills every corner of the room. A variety of flags hang from the ceiling on both sides of the pews, a physical representation of St. Olaf’s international student body.
Holland Hall
Modeled after the Mont-Saint-Michel monastery in France, Holland Hall stands as one of the most majestic and iconic buildings on campus. It is home to students, faculty, and staff from the economics, history, philosophy, political science, social work and family studies, and sociology and anthropology departments.
Natural Lands
With over 400 acres of restored prairies, forests, and wetlands, the St. Olaf Natural Lands offer ample opportunities for hands-on research and fieldwork. The area also hosts STOGROW, a student-run campus farm dedicated to sustainable agriculture and providing fresh produce for the St. Olaf community. Students also enjoy taking walks with their friends on the winding paths and exploring the landscape.
Steensland Hall
The original and oldest library on campus, Steensland Hall is home to the largest collection of works by and about the 19th-century Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard outside of Denmark. Steensland stands out on campus for its Neoclassical Revival-style architecture.