Where is your special spot on campus? Post a photo and use the hashtag: #myLUspot
Monogram
From across most of Lynchburg, the Liberty University Monogram on the side of Liberty Mountain is easy to spot. Created in 2007, the monogram stretches across 3 acres. The background is made up of more than 200 tons of white stone, and red brick chips fill in the areas between the approximately 1,200 Japanese Barberry and additional flowering plants that make up the “L” and “U.” Not only is the Monogram a giant landmark, but it also serves as a popular resting spot for hikers using the Liberty Mountain Trail System. Students can gaze at spectacular views of campus from a gazebo on-site. Monogram Road leads to the Monogram trailhead from Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre.
DeMoss Fountain
Outside of DeMoss Hall, a cast-bronze eagle greets students and guests as they walk by the 19-foot fountain. The structure was installed in 2009 as a way to honor donors who helped fund the expansion of the building in 2000. On sunny days, students can be seen sitting around the fountain chatting with friends or finishing up assignments.
Liberty Bell
Commissioned in 1976 for America’s bicentennial celebration, the university’s Liberty Bell is a replica of the iconic American symbol. In April 2015, the bell rang for four minutes in remembrance of the 150th anniversary of the surrender at Appomattox Court House, which ended the Civil War. For years, the bell has been housed along University Boulevard outside of the Elmer Towns Religion Hall, but it will soon be moved to the top of Freedom Tower where it will ring again, along with a 25-bell assembly.
Prayer Chapel & Prayer Garden
With its tall, white steeple, the R.C. Worley Prayer Chapel is a picturesque monument to the importance of faith on Liberty’s campus; it serves as a place where students can come to worship and pray. Inside, wooden pews line the aisles, and sunlight seeps through the locally made stained glass windows. Since being built in 1981, the chapel has hosted worship services, all-night prayer meetings, and weddings (including the wedding of President Jerry Falwell and his wife, Becki). In 2014, the chapel was restored, with special care taken to preserve its history. Additions included a renovated stage, an extension of the front of the building, and a restructured and more open ceiling.
Once a swimming pool at the estate of Sen. Carter Glass, the Prayer Garden is now one of the quietest spots on campus and a favorite for students seeking solitude or reflection. Located behind Montview Mansion (Glass’ former home that now houses special guests and features a museum), the nook has benches, a small fountain, and blooming flowers in the spring.
Spirit Rock
It would be hard to find a student who hasn’t spray-painted the giant boulder sitting across from DeMoss Hall. The rock has been plastered with thousands of layers of paint over the years, and messages change almost daily. The Spirit Rock has been used to exhibit everything from dorm pride to the symbols of favorite superheroes. Messages have paid tribute to our nation’s heroes and memorialized victims of tragedy. It has also helped more than a few students propose.
Sunken Garden
In between the Jerry Falwell Library and the new Center for Music and the Worship Arts sits the Sunken Garden, a space that features a quaint one-story waterfall fountain, lush plants, and a stone patio. It has been used to host a variety of gatherings, including the alumni social over Homecoming Weekend.
