West Lafayette Travel Guide

Trek Zone

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Facts and practical information

Welcome to West Lafayette, a vibrant city located in the heart of Indiana. Known for its strong sense of community and rich cultural heritage, West Lafayette offers visitors a unique blend of history, nature, and academia.

One of the main attractions in West Lafayette is Purdue University, a renowned institution that has shaped the city's identity. Take a stroll through the beautiful campus, marvel at the impressive architecture, and immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere created by the thousands of students from around the world.

For nature enthusiasts, West Lafayette offers a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities. Head to Celery Bog Nature Area, a peaceful sanctuary where you can hike along scenic trails, observe diverse wildlife, and even go birdwatching. The area is home to over 150 species of birds, making it a haven for bird lovers.

If you're interested in history, a visit to The Farm at Prophetstown is a must. This living history museum showcases the life of a 1920s farm, allowing visitors to experience firsthand the daily activities and traditions of the era. From tending to farm animals to exploring the historic buildings, this immersive experience provides a glimpse into the past.

Art enthusiasts will find their paradise at the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette. This museum features a diverse collection of artwork, including paintings, sculptures, and photography, showcasing both local and international talent. With rotating exhibits and educational programs, there's always something new to discover and appreciate.

No trip to West Lafayette would be complete without indulging in the local culinary scene. From charming cafes to upscale restaurants, the city offers a wide range of dining options to suit every palate. Sample delicious farm-to-table dishes made with locally sourced ingredients or savor international flavors from around the world.

Alternative names: Population: 45.6 thous.Area: 13.81 mi²Elevation: 604 ft a.s.l.Coordinates: 40°25'27"N, 86°54'31"W

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IndianaUnited States

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West Lafayette Top Attractions

West Lafayette Attractions - What to See and Explore

West Lafayette offers many attractions and places to visit. Here are the most important ones: Ross-Ade Stadium, Mackey Arena, Engineering Fountain, Samara. Below you will find a complete list of places worth visiting.

Arenas and stadiums • Sport venue • Football
Ross-Ade Stadium
Ross–Ade Stadium is a stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana, on the campus of Purdue University. It is the home field of Purdue Boilermakers football. The stadium was dedicated on November 22, 1924, and named in honor of Purdue alumni George Ade and David E. Ross.
Arenas and stadiums • Sport venue • Basketball
Mackey Arena
Mackey Arena is located in West Lafayette, Indiana. Part of the Purdue University campus, it is home to the university's basketball teams, and occasionally hosts home games for the volleyball and wrestling teams. The arena opened in 1967 as a replacement for Lambert Fieldhouse.
Fountain
Engineering Fountain
The Purdue Mall Water Sculpture, often referred to as the Engineering Fountain, is a water sculpture and fountain located at the main campus of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Architecture • Historical place • Museum
Samara
Samara, also known as the John E. Christian House, is a house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright located in West Lafayette, Indiana. The home is an example of the Usonian homes that Wright designed. Samara was built from 1954 to 1956 and was still occupied by the original owner, John E. Christian, until he died on July 12, 2015.
Concerts and shows • Theater
Elliott Hall of Music
The Elliott Hall of Music is a theater located on the campus of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. With a seating capacity of 6,005, it is one of the largest proscenium theaters in the world, and is 45 seats larger than Radio City Music Hall.
Church
St. Thomas Aquinas
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church is the Catholic university parish at Purdue University. It is in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette in Indiana. It is often referred to as "St. Tom's" by parishioners.
Tower
Purdue Bell Tower
The Purdue Bell Tower is a 160-foot tall bell tower in the center of Purdue University's campus. It was constructed in 1995 through a gift from the class of 1948.
Student center • Monuments and statues
The Boilermaker
The Boilermaker is a statue that was dedicated on November 4, 2005, as a monument commemorating the "indomitable spirit of the...
Memorial
Purdue Memorial Union
The Purdue Memorial Union is a student union building located on the Purdue University campus in West Lafayette, Indiana, USA. It opened in 1924 as a memorial to the Purdue students who had fought in World War I. The building includes several restaurants, lounges, and student organization offices, as well as a bowling alley and a hotel.
Frat house • Tudor Revival architecture
Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity House
Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity House, also known as Maltese Manor, is a historic fraternity house located at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana. It was built in 1920, and is a 2+1⁄2-story, rectangular, Tudor Revival style brick and stone building.
Park
Purdue University Horticulture Gardens
The Purdue University Horticulture Gardens are botanical gardens at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana in the United States.
Bars and clubs • Nightlife • Art Nouveau architecture
Brothers Purdue
The Purdue State Bank Building is a historic structure in West Lafayette, Indiana, United States, designed by American architect and Frank Lloyd Wright's mentor Louis Sullivan.
Amphitheatre
Slayter Center of Performing Arts
The Slayter Center of Performing Arts is located on the main campus of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, United States. It is an outdoor concert bandshell completed in 1964 and dedicated May 1, 1965. The facility was a gift from Games Slayter and his wife Marie.
Modernist architecture • Wabash Shores
Curtis–Grace House
Curtis–Grace House, also known as the Roy and Leona Curtis House and Richard and Connie Grace House, is a historic home located at West Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana. It was built in 1958, and is a two-story, banked, post-and-beam Modern Movement style dwelling, with a broad, low-pitched offset gable roof.
40°25'17"N • 86°53'57"W
Art on the Wabash
Art gallery • Shopping • Museum
Park
Prophetstown park
Prophetstown State Park commemorates a Native American village founded in 1808 by Shawnee leaders Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa north of present-day Lafayette, Indiana, which grew into a large, multi-tribal community.
Tudor Revival architecture
The Varsity
The Varsity is a historic apartment building located at West Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana. It was built in 1928, and is a three-story, "L"-shaped, Tudor Revival style brick building.
40°25'30"N • 86°54'27"W
West Lafayette Public Library
Library
40°25'52"N • 86°54'52"W
Purdue University School of Aeronautics and Astronautics
The Purdue University School of Aeronautics and Astronautics is Purdue University's school of aerospace engineering contained within the Purdue University College of Engineering.

Day trips

West Lafayette – popular in the area (distance from the center)

In the vicinity of West Lafayette, it's worth seeing attractions such as: Cass County Dentzel Carousel (Logansport), Cox Ford Covered Bridge (Turkey Run State Park), Seiberling Mansion (Kokomo).

37 milesNE
Amusement, Game and entertainment center, Historical place
Cass County Dentzel Carousel, Logansport
The Cass County Dentzel Carousel, formerly known as the Spencer Park Dentzel Carousel and also known as the Riverside Park Dentzel Carousel or Logansport Carousel, is a historic carousel in Riverside Park of Logansport, Indiana.
41 milesSW
Bridge
Cox Ford Covered Bridge, Turkey Run State Park
The Cox Ford Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that crosses Sugar Creek along the western edge of Turkey Run State Park, in Parke County, in the U.S. state of Indiana.
40 milesE
Specialty museum, Museum, History museum
Seiberling Mansion, Kokomo
The Seiberling Mansion is a historic house located at Kokomo, Indiana, United States. In 1887, Monroe Seiberling of Akron, Ohio, traveled to Kokomo to open the Kokomo Strawboard Company, which would make shoeboxes out of straw and employ seventy-five people.
26 milesS
Museum, Specialty museum, History museum
General Lew Wallace Study and Museum, Crawfordsville
The General Lew Wallace Study & Museum, formerly known as the Ben-Hur Museum, is located in Crawfordsville, Indiana. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976, and in 2008 was awarded a National Medal from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. It is located in the Elston Grove Historic District.
8.8 miNE
Nature and wildlife, Outdoor activities, Park
Wolf Park, Battle Ground
Wolf Park is a nonprofit education and research facility in Battle Ground, Indiana, United States, established in 1972 by Dr. Erich Klinghammer.