Mastodon bone home: Skeleton that inspired choice of Purdue Fort Wayne nickname now permanently displayed at student union

It’s been a long time coming, but mastodon bones discovered on a farm just south of Angola in 1968 have finally found a permanent home at Walb Student Union on the campus of Purdue University Fort Wayne. Work on the impressive glass case where the skeleton is now displayed wrapped up last week, just days before the start of the fall semester.

Maybe the only thing as impressive as the finished product is the story that played out behind the scenes to make it all a reality. It featured all the key elements: expertise and guidance from faculty; vision and enthusiasm from students; creativity; and a whole lot of patience. Ultimately, it was a $200,000 allocation of funds from PFW’s Student Government Association during the 2022-23 academic year that helped set the stage for a final sprint that was 56 years in the making. The Purdue Fort Wayne Foundation also donated $20,000 to help the cause.

The display case is located near the student union's new Herd Hideout in the hallway that leads to the International Ballroom. To help celebrate its completion, PFW released on Tuesday a video, feature story, and image gallery that explains in greater detail the history of the project while also introducing just a few of the key figures who have helped make it possible.

Click on the graphic directly below to access the video.