Was that neo-classical or collegiate gothic?

Tatum Walker, a senior studying art history in the College of Arts and Letters, used TourGuide to help create a digital opportunity to learn about campus buildings.

Thanks to an MSU learning application and a devoted alumnus, Spartans near and far are participating in the 50th anniversary celebration of the College of Arts and Letters with an interactive virtual tour of campus buildings significant to the CAL.

   CAL faculty and students developedan application, dubbed TourGuide, tofacilitate the creation of multi-mediaenhanced “tours” that users experienceon their desktops or out in the field with location-aware mobile platforms.

   TourGuide allowed the creation of the CAL building tour with support from Henry Timnick (’57, B.A.; ’58, M.A.,College of Arts and Letters) who made a $15,000 gift in honor of his mother, Ottilie Schroeter Timnick. The tour includes stops at Wells Hall (recently significantly expanded), Kresge Art Center (where you can learn when and how MSU’s art collection was inaugurated) and the new Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum. The gift also will support a special 50th anniversary tour computer station for campus visitors.

   In collaboration with the MSU Museum and Interdisciplinary Studies in General Sciences, other featured tours now available include an exploration of MSU’s Roosevelt-era “New Deal” art and architecture; a campus tour of scientific discoveries correlated to pesticides and the publication of Silent Spring; and Red Cedar Timeline, exploring flood risks related to natural vegetation.

   Learn more at tourguide.cal.msu.edu. For more information on supporting the College of Arts and Letters, contact Director of Development Bridget Paff atpaff@msu.edu; (517) 353-4725.