Brenau Ideal

Landmarks

The monuments, statuary and architecture of Brenau distinguish its uniqueness and symbolize the character of its mission and student body. The weather vane located in front of the Owens Student Center suggests that Brenau students come from the north, south, east and west. Four bronze statues also represent different versions of our students: Two figures of young Brenau women stand in front of the Lessie Southgate Simmons Memorial Hall; a statue of a modern-day Brenau scholar, staying awake with a cup of coffee while typing on her laptop, is located on the front lawn; and a sculpture of a student of the past sits inside the Daniel Pavilion.

Crow’s Nest

The Crow’s Nest has occupied several spots on front campus and is currently near the site of the first iteration given to the college by the class of 1905. Only seniors are allowed to ascend to its top. Tradition states that juniors are allowed to go as far as the second steps, sophomores are allowed on the first steps around the large platform, and first-year class must remain on the ground. The changing of rank takes place on May Day with the passing of the ivy and daisy chains along with the robing of upcoming seniors. The Crow’s Nest allows students to understand and appreciate the rising ranks of each class.

The Brenau Ideal

The Brenau Ideal, originally written by President H.J. Pearce, is carved into a granite slab located at the base of the Crow’s Nest on the front lawn. Learn More about the Brenau Ideal

Grace Hooten Moore Memorial Fountain

The fountain, named for a 1938 alumna, sits on the lawn in front of Pearce Auditorium and has been a part of the university since 1880. The fountain has seen more than 140+ Spring Festivals and May Day celebrations. Traditionally, if a Women’s College student gets engaged, her friends toss her into the fountain for good luck.

Aeneas at the Court of Dido

The elaborate ceiling painting of Aeneas at the Court of Dido, inspired by characters in Virgil’s Aeneid, was completed in Pearce Auditorium in 1897.

The painting was updated and restored during the renovation of Pearce in the 1980s.

Bamboo Forest

Dr. H.J. Pearce commissioned Shogo Joseph Myaida, a landscape architect who had recently immigrated to the U.S. from Japan, to design a pond, an island and a Japanese garden on campus, as well as a garden around the president’s home. Myaida stayed on campus for two years, from 1923-24, to complete the projects. The bamboo forest that now exists from those plantings was a shooting location for the 2018 film Rampage!

Hitching Post

The Hitching Post located on Wilkes Lawn once stood in downtown Gainesville. In the 1960s when the square was redesigned, Lester Hosch acquired the hitching post and donated it to Brenau.

Shreve Plaza and Gazebo

The Gazebo commemorates the former site of the Delta Delta Delta sorority house. The area between Bailey Hall and the Tea Room is named Shreve Plaza.

Sundial

The Sundial, located in Sorority Circle, is a reminder of the Sunken Gardens that once graced the campus. It was placed in honor of Pearl Phillips Lockett, who graduated in 1897.

Coggins Monument

Coggins is a marble monument located in the middle of Sorority Circle. The Women’s College seal is located on the top of the monument. The monument was by Frank Coggins Jr.

Daniel Pavilion

Daniel Pavilion, which is inscribed with the Four Portals of Learning, was built in 2009. The pavilion, constructed of Italian marble, was a gift from Carole Ann Carter Daniel, WC ’68, a member of the Brenau Board of Trustees.

Wishing Stone

The Wishing Stone is located among the bushes to the left in front of the Bailey Building. A legend holds that if you place your hand on the stone while making a wish, your dream will come true.

Harriet Tubman and Child Sculpture

Located on the front lawn, this sculpture honors the civil rights pioneer and abolitionist, Harriet Tubman. The piece was created and donated to the university by Colorado sculptor Jane Dedecker in September 1997.

Luminary 830

A newer sculpture on Brenau’s campus sits near the Jacobs building. Created by North Carolina sculptor Mike Roig, the piece, titled Luminary 830, represents Brenau’s ongoing support of the arts as well as the luminary minds of students at Brenau University. Roig explained that he took his original inspiration for this sculpture from Brenau’s motto, “as gold refined by fire.”

Takeda Monument and the Japanese Maple Trees

Located in front of the Science Building is a Japanese monument from Camp Takeda, which closed in the 1940s. Camp Takeda was an all-girls camp located on the historic Brenau campus. The monument once stood in Lake Takeda. The two Japanese maple trees planted by the Science Building stand as a memorial to Aya Takeda, class of 1914, symbolizing the lasting friendships nurtured at Brenau, especially those with Desma Pentecost Kenyon, class of 1910, Sallie Waddell Evans Launius, class of 1913 and President H.J. Pearce.

Cancer Garden

A tribute to colleagues, family and friends who have struggled with cancer, it is a special place in particular for those who have survived breast cancer. The swing is dedicated to Dr. Lynnea Halberg, former vice president for student development. The fountain was a gift in honor of Melissa Currin Heard, WC ’92. Anna Wilkins Cook, WC ’90, former campus nurse, developed the idea for the garden and made arrangements for the first phase of bricks and flowers.

Lucile, the Golden Tiger Sculpture

Lucile is an enormous bronze sculpture of a golden tiger — the Brenau mascot — by Georgia artist Gregory Johnson, who has other works on the Brenau campus. Brenau students named the tiger Lucile in honor of Lucile Townsend Pearce, the wife of longtime Brenau President H.J. Pearce.

Permanent Art Collection

Brenau boasts an amazing collection of painting, sculpture, vintage clothing and other artworks in its Permanent Art Collection. Many of the works remain on display in public access university buildings in Gainesville and elsewhere. Pieces are often pulled from the collection for special themed exhibition in Brenau’s four galleries: the Leo Castelli Art Gallery, Presidents Gallery, Sellars Gallery and the Manhattan Gallery. Brenau’s collection comprises close to 6,500 works as of the time of this publication. It focuses on American art, art by women, pop art, folk art and art of regional importance. Highlights include numerous Pre-Columbian artifacts; a salon-sized oil painting by Anna Elizabeth Klumpke, the 19th century late-life partner of world-renown French painter Rosa Bonheur; paintings by the 19th-century French painter Eugène Delacroix; a small Jean Arp sculpture; selected sculptures by American artists Clyde Connell and William King; a gouache by 20th-century Cuban painter Amelia Peláez; Andy Warhol prints and photographs, and a number of works by other celebrated American artists such as Ed Ruscha, Jasper Johns, Frank Stella, James Rosenquist and Marisol.