Among the state’s most recognizable landmarks, the Coughlin Campanile punctuates the Brookings skyline and serves as a beacon to Jackrabbits of all generations.
Nearly a century ago, the structure began as an innovative dream and a $75,000 gift from 1909 engineering graduate, Charles Coughlin. Coughlin himself laid the campanile’s cornerstone during the first outdoor commencement held in Coolidge Theatre on June 10, 1929.
“The dignity of the structure might symbolize the majesty and dignity of the state, that the notes of its beautiful chimes might be understood as a call to the student sons and daughters of the state to avail themselves of the educational opportunities afforded by the generosity of the people of the state…and that the beacon light might always point toward the realization of the dream that was in the heart of the pioneers.”
Over the course of construction, campus leaders notified Coughlin that the cost to build what would become South Dakota State University’s signature landmark would exceed four times the original estimate of the project.
While the Coughlin Campanile continues to be a beloved and timeless edifice of the SDSU campus, the university carries a bold vision of what the iconic feature can still become. A revitalization of the campanile will provide modernized lighting, upgraded music, and a historic timeline to create the state’s tallest interpretive center, educating guests along the way to the extraordinary view that awaits them at the top.
