Take a good look at those sturdy brick walls-the State Gymnasium ahead of you has been standing strong since 1913. Imagine the air back then, filled with the sound of marching boots, bouncing basketballs, and coaches barking commands. The entire building went up in just two years for the grand sum of $150,000-a small fortune at the time! Originally, folks wanted this spot for an armory and fieldhouse. It took nearly 20 years of arm-twisting to finally get the funding, so you could say patience is a true ISU tradition.
This was the stage for Iowa State’s basketball battles from its first days until 1946. Trust me, it got rowdy in here-players dashing, sneakers squeaking, and crowds roaring as legends were made. When the team moved to the Armory, and later to Hilton Coliseum, the State Gym transformed into an athletic playground. Today, you’ll find four basketball courts, tennis spaces, an indoor track, and even a swimming pool that once saw the university’s first swim teams making waves-literally and figuratively. So if you feel like shooting some hoops where century-old legends once stood, you’re in very good company. And hey, no need to worry about running laps-unless you really want to!
