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Lewis McLouth, SDSU’s second president, built this home and it was named Woodbine Cottage. After McLouth’s departure, the university bought the house and used it as a women’s dormitory and briefly as an infirmary. In 1903, it became the official home of the SDSU president. It remained the home of the SDSU president until 2017 when the new President’s Home was completed.

Lincoln Memorial Library was the first building in South Dakota constructed with funds gathered from a cigarette tax. It was also the first land-grant building in the nation named after President Abraham Lincoln.

“Old Faithful” sounded with pride from its new home atop the campanile. This bell had been taken from its former home in Old Central, SDSU’s first building, where it had sounded for nearly 40 years. “Old Faithful” was then moved to the Old North Clock Tower located beside Tompkins Alumni Center until 2016 when it was demolished to make room for the new Alumni Center and President’s Home.

The Alumni Center and President’s Home project included the installation of a new clock tower to replace that which was torn down. The bell was salvaged and reinstalled in its new home, The Tompkins Clock Tower, named in remembrance of the building that once stood on that site.

Calvin Coolidge has been the only United States president to visit SDSU. In 1927, Coolidge dedicated this outdoor theatre and Lincoln Memorial Library. Ada B. Caldwell, an art professor, designed Coolidge Sylvan Theatre. The theatre is decorated with wrought iron gates, which were hand-forged on campus. Most graduations from 1928 to 1973 were held here. The stage is still used for plays and concerts and was the site of President Peggy Gordon Miller’s and President Barry H. Dunn’s inauguration in 1998 and 2016, respectively.

SDSU’s homecoming week culminates with Hobo Day. The week includes scheduled events such as Bum Olympics, Bum Over, Rally at the Rails and the Cavorts Talents Show.

The first Hobo Day was in 1912. It featured a torchlight parade where students dressed in their nightshirts and met their friends, family and returning alumni who were arriving on the nightly train. The next day, the men dressed like bums and the women as Native Americans. Together, they begged for ingredients from Brookings residents to make Bum Stew to feed their visitors.

Hobo Day starts with the Hobo Day Parade, where bands, floats and the Bummobile entertain an enthusiastic crowd. The parade is followed by the Hobo Day football game.

One of the best-known elements of Hobo Day is the Bummobile. It is a 1912 Model-T Ford that was donated by Frank Weigel, a farmer from Flandreau. The Bummobile first appeared in the 1939 Hobo Day Parade and has remained an integral part of Hobo Day ever since.

When not adding to the Hobo Day festivities, the Bummobile is on display in the Hobo Day Gallery in the University Student Union.

Hobo Day is synonymous with two characters, Weary Wil and Dirty Lil. Weary Wil first appeared in a mural painting in the Jungle at Pugsley Union in the 40s and then was physically represented, for the first time, in 1950 by then student Walt Conahan. From 1950 forward, the Weary Wil moniker was known and used.

In 1976, Dirty Lil made her first appearance at Hobo Day. Lil’s character evolved out of a song written by the Hobo Day Committee. “Dirty Lil, Dirty Lil; Lived on top of a garbage hill; Never took a bath, never will; Dirty Lil.”

Wil and Lil serve as the symbol of all great Hobos. Both characters appear on SDSU’s campus throughout Hobo Week and are alumni of SDSU who were active as students on campus. Their identities remain a secret until halftime of the football game.

Stemmed from the USD rivalry, the cowbell tradition goes back as far as the 1920s after students of USD referred to SDSC (South Dakota State College) as “cow college.” A story by John M. Ryan from a 1935 edition of the Collegian stated that Robert Bloedel ’28, a former captain of the cheer squad, felt that if SDSC was to be called “cow college” they might as well be proud of it. Bloedel asked President Charles Pugsley if State fans could bring cowbells to the game and use them to answer the taunts of the Coyotes.

Ring The Bell

Ring the Bell was written by Ken Carpenter, a music professor, and Stan Schleuter ’61 as an entry in a contest to find an upbeat fight song sponsored by the music department.

Ring the bell for South Dakota

The Yellow and the Blue;

Cheer the team from South Dakota

With loyal hearts so true;

Win the game for South Dakota

The school that serves us well;

We will fight for South Dakota

SO let’s ring, ring, ring those bells.

Yellow and Blue

The Yellow and Blue was written by N.E. Hansen, a horticulture professor, with the help of Francis Haynes, a music professor, who put music to Hansen’s words.

We come from the Sioux and Missouri,

The Cheyenne and the Jim,

From pine-clad peaks of the Black Hills,

Brimful of vigor and vim,

We sing the song of the prairie,

The home of the Yellow and Blue.

The gleaming gold of the cornfield,

The flax of azure hue.

Oh, SDSU hurrah for the Yellow and Blue;

Old SDSU all honor and glory to you;

Forever raise the song in praise both loud and long

With loyal hearts so true (so true).