Our Tour of Notre Dame’s Beauty
June 2024
Admiring Notre Dame's Beauty and History
The University of Notre Dame campus in Notre Dame, IN, is a beautiful, peaceful 1,250-acre site. The Golden Dome, covered with 23.75-karat gold leaf and situated on top of the Main Building, is the most recognizable landmark on campus.
The Basilica of the Sacred Heart is the University’s church. It’s a stunning structure, well-known for housing the largest collection of 19th-century French stained glass in the world. While we couldn’t see the inside due to a wedding, the exterior architecture was impressive. The Grotto, a replica of the Grotto at Lourdes, France, offered peace and sanctity. We quickly took some pictures to avoid disturbing the worshippers who were praying there. The Clarke Memorial Fountain, nicknamed “Stonehenge” for its resemblance to the prehistoric monument, honors alumni who died serving the country in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. We walked along a huge mural, titled The Word of Life, on the Hesburgh Library, nicknamed “Touchdown Jesus”. We also got a glimpse of St. Mary’s Lake.
And Admiring Artistic Gems at The Raclin Murphy and Sculpture Park
After seeing these campus landmarks, we also visited the air-conditioned Raclin Murphy Museum of Art, which opened in late 2023 as the new home of the university’s art collection. We were happy to see that much of the artwork was gifted, including a vibrant painting by Dutch CoBrA artist Karel Appel. After leaving the museum, the hot outdoor temperature hit us mercilessly. Although we hadn’t seen all of Notre Dame’s beauty, we wanted to escape the heat and humidity. So, we quickly toured the contemporary Sculpture Park before driving home and cooling down again in our air-conditioned car!
