State College

The Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania was founded on February 22, 1855, in Centre County, near what is today State College. This institution would later become Pennsylvania State University, a major public research university. The founding was part of the broader land-grant university movement in the United States, established to support agricultural education.

The first fair of the Centre County Agricultural Association was held in State College on October 6, 1859. This event marked an early example of community agricultural gatherings in the region, which have long been a tradition in rural Pennsylvania. Such fairs played a critical role in the dissemination of new agricultural knowledge and practices.

The first graduation ceremony at what was then the Agricultural College of Pennsylvania took place on June 6, 1874. This historic event saw the conferral of degrees to the first class of graduates, marking an important milestone in the institution's evolution into a comprehensive university over the subsequent decades.

The Nittany Lion Inn, a historic inn located on the University Park campus of Penn State, was established on June 15, 1945. The Nittany Lion Inn became a central part of the campus and the wider community, serving dignitaries, alumni, and visitors. It is known for its colonial-style architecture and proximity to campus sites.

On July 1, 1953, Penn State University was designated the flagship public university of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education in Pennsylvania. This status marked an important step in the university's history, making it a central institution in the state's higher education system, with broad responsibilities in research and public service.

On September 12, 1965, the first flight entirely manned by Penn State students took place as part of an aerospace engineering project. This event demonstrated the growing emphasis on hands-on engineering experience at the university and was a precursor to the development of more advanced aerospace research capabilities at Penn State.

The Palmer Museum of Art opened on October 1, 1980, at the University Park campus of Penn State University. It houses a permanent collection of more than 8,200 objects, including major works of American art. The museum provides a rich resource for students, scholars, and the general public, offering exhibitions, educational programs, and scholarly research.

Penn State launched its World Campus on September 25, 1997, marking a significant expansion of the university's mission to provide education to learners worldwide through online programs. The World Campus offers over 150 online undergraduate and graduate programs, reaching over 20,000 students globally. This innovation highlights Penn State's leadership in online education.

On September 24, 2005, Penn State's Beaver Stadium set a new attendance record with a crowd of 110,753 people during the football game against Ohio State. This event underscored the passionate fan base and the significant role of college football in the university's culture and community spirit.

The Pegula Ice Arena opened officially on April 6, 2015, providing a state-of-the-art ice hockey facility for Penn State's teams and the community. The arena was made possible by a $102 million donation from Terry and Kim Pegula. It includes two ice sheets, one for varsity team use and another for public and community use.