Explore the campus. Unlock the stories.

Discover the people, places, innovations, and unexpected stories that have shaped The Catholic University of America with the Historical Campus Walking Tour.

This self-guided adventure brings 10 fascinating points of interest to life through short videos hosted by Catholic University’s Shane MacDonald, curator of digital and museum collections.

Start the journey of the University with Theodore Roosevelt’s visit to see the statue of Pope Leo XIII, discover the connection of faith and reason between the Mullen Library and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, and learn how Catholic University became home to the United States’ first wind tunnel.

Watch the video at each stop below, whether you’re walking campus or exploring from home.

For more entertaining stories and surprising discoveries from the University Archives, explore Cardinal Perspectives with Shane MacDonald at: engage.catholic.edu/cardinal-perspectives

Explore Cardinal Perspectives

  1. 1. A Pope, a Statue, and a Presidential Visit

    Pope Leo XIII Statue

    This 12-foot marble statue of Pope Leo XIII has fascinated Catholic University students and faculty for generations. It even drew a visit from President Theodore Roosevelt.

  2. 2. The Story Begins Here

    Caldwell Hall Cornerstone and Building

    Caldwell Hall and its chapel, originally known as St. Paul's Chapel, mark where campus began. The building's cornerstone holds items that offer a look at the University's earliest days.

  3. 3. The Final Moments of Pope Leo XIII

    Pope Leo XIII Deathbed Painting

    An 8-by-5-foot oil painting captures the final moments of Pope Leo XIII. It hangs in the Conway School of Nursing. How it got there is a story of its own.

  4. 4. A Journey Toward a New Life

    Angels Unawares Statue

    The 3.5-ton bronze Angels Unawares shows 140 migrants, including the Holy Family, aboard a 20-foot boat. It tells a story of migration, faith, and hope that never goes out of date.

  5. 5. A Saint, Library, and, Basilica Connection

    Mullen Library

    The John K. Mullen of Denver Memorial Library, a statue of St. Jerome, patron saint of libraries, and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception next door share remarkable alignment. Find out how.

  6. 6. Look Up: Art With a Story

    Mullen and Caldwell Exterior Artwork

    Look up at Mullen Library and Caldwell Hall. The artwork and architectural details are easy to miss, but each one tells a story of faith, scholarship, or craftsmanship.

  7. 7. Where the University Broke New Ground

    Wind Tunnel Location on Campus

    From Arctic exploration and early psychology to the first wind tunnel in the United States, Catholic University scholars pushed science, education, and human knowledge forward.

  8. 8. Forts, Fields, and Forgotten Places

    Civil War Fort

    Civil War forts, an observatory, and athletic fields once stood on ground that is now home to familiar University landmarks. Step back into earlier eras of campus history.

  9. 9. From Campus to Canonization

    Blessed Fulton J. Sheen at Caldwell Hall

    Follow Blessed Fulton J. Sheen from Catholic University student and professor to nationally known radio and television voice, and on the path toward canonization.

  10. 10. Popes, Presidents, and Public Figures

    Campus Wide

    Historic visits and unexpected connections fill this stop. Meet the popes, presidents, and public figures whose paths crossed Catholic University and added new chapters to its history.